Development of Quality-of-Care Indicators for Patients Undergoing Total Hip or Total Knee Replacement

This study developed evidence-based quality indicators to measure key aspects of care than can be targeted to decrease variations in complication rates following total joint replacement. There were 101 candidate indicators of quality identified in the 6 domains of preoperative processes of care; intraoperative processes; postoperative processes; implant selection and the use of new technology; privileging of hospitals and surgeons; and outcomes and comorbidity assessment. A total of 68 of the 101 indicators were rated as valid with statistical agreement.. This project provides tools to measure and improve quality of care for patients undergoing total joint replacement.

Keywords: quality improvement, quality indicators, quality measures, quality of care, total hip arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty

⁎ UCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA

† Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, USA

‡ Center for Surgical Outcomes and Quality, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA

§ Department of Surgery, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Address reprint requests to Nelson F. SooHoo, MD, UCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 10945 Le Conte Ave., PVUB 3355, Los Angeles, CA 90095

This study is supported by a grant from the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation.

PII: S1045-4527(09)00109-6

doi:10.1053/j.sart.2009.12.023

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