Outcome Assessment and Quality Assurance

What is the purpose of outcomes assessment?

Measure the effectiveness of interventions

Used to:

• Legitimize a claim to insurance companies

• Legitimize continued care

• Research

• Internally assess the effectiveness of care

What is the outcome assessment cycle?

• 1 - Write/revisit outcomes

• 2 - Identify evidence

• 3 - Collect evidence

• 4 - Analyze/interpret evidence

• 5 - Draw conclusions and write an assessment report

What are some examples of outcome assessments?

• Objective measurements (ROM, MMT, ability to ambulate, etc.)

• Clinical assessment tools (TUG- timed up and go, berg balance tests)

• Oswestry Low back Pain disability questionnaire

• Quick Dash (disability arm shoulder hand)

• WOMAC Osteoarthritis Disability Index

• Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI)

When is an outcome assessment administered?

• At the initial evaluation

• If there is a change of intervention or discharge continues

What is the role of the PTA in outcomes assessment?

• Scoring of the assessment tool (administering the test)

• Explanation of the assessment tool for the patient

What can a PTA not do in an outcome assessment?

• CALCULATE results of assessment tool

• Interpret results of the assessment toll

• Both have to be reported to the PT

What is quality assurance?

The maintenance of a desired level of quality in service or product, especially by means of attention to every stage of the process of delivery or production

What are types of quality assurance?

• Chart assessment (making sure a chart is finished - can be done by a PT or PTA)

• Assessment of whether or not the intervention meets the standard of care (can only be done by PT)

• Institutional goals (goal set by a company)

What is the cycle of quality improvement?

Plan → Measure → Analyze → Improve → Repeat

What’s the difference between an outcome assessment and quality assurances?

Measure of effectiveness vs. maintenance of desired level of quality