News Brief: Tools sought to measure quality of hospital care

News Brief: Tools sought to measure quality of hospital care

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is looking for tools that measure patients’ experience with quality of hospital care.

In line with its priority — and that of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services — of establishing a universal standard, AHRQ is soliciting the submission by researchers and stakeholders of such tools, according to an announcement in the July 24, 2002, edition of the Federal Register.

While the AHRQ-funded Consumer Assessment of Health Plans measures consumers’ experience within the health care system, it doesn’t address patients’ experiences within the acute care setting, the agency says. AHRQ will initiate the process of developing a public instrument by reviewing existing instruments that capture the patients’ hospital experiences.

More information is available at www.ahrq.gov.