Joint meeting of the RSS Manchester local group with the RSS Primary Health Care Study Group
 
December 6th 2006 at Manchester Metropolitan University, Oxford Road, Manchester 

Room E34, John Dalton Building (opposite BBC), 2.00pm to 5.00pm

(Map available from: http://www.mmu.ac.uk/about/locations/allsaints.php)


Measuring and improving the quality of care in primary health care 

VERN FAREWELL (University of Cambridge)
Performance monitoring of medical outcomes: methodological issues in recent developments



In recent years there has been increasing attention given to statistical aspects of performance monitoring in medical contexts. In this talk, I will discuss some specific methodology that has been devised, with a particular focus on longitudinal monitoring of performance. The adaptation of methods used in other contexts to incorporate risk adjustment will be emphasized. An attempt will be made to highlight methodological issues of general relevance. 

DAVID REEVES (University of Manchester)
Combining multiple indicators of clinical quality 


Quantitative methods are increasingly being used to assess and compare clinical care amongst primary care providers. Assessment usually involves collecting data against a range of clinical indicators. Different studies have applied different methods for combining across indicators to produce an overall "composite" quality score for each provider. This paper applies some of the more common methods to two quality indicator datasets to assess how far the conclusions made about quality depend upon the method used to combine the indicators. Some suggestions and recommendations are made. 

MIKE PRINGLE (University of Nottingham)
The intangible aspects of quality: relationship to the measurable 

Many aspects of "quality" are measurable. Conventional audits, target achievements (such as the Quality and Outcomes Framework), and health care statistics have shown this in primary care. As a partner in QRESEARCH and QFLU I am a firm believer in the utility of information derived from data. Yet much of the effective improvements in health care have harnessed the power of qualitative data: anecdotes, case studies, significant events and adverse events. This talk will look at the benefits from a dual approach that values the measurable alongside the emotive, in the pursuit of quality.