Does Pay-for-Performance Improve the Quality of Health Care?

Letters3 April 2007Does Pay-for-Performance Improve the Quality of Health Care?Laura A. Petersen, MD, MPHLaura A. Petersen, MD, MPHFrom Michael E. DeBakey Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-146-7-200704030-00016 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE: Dr. Van Swol appropriately highlights the importance of valid, reliable assessment of health care quality as the foundation of pay-for-performance programs. He asserts that this can be achieved only through a universal electronic health record and points out the disproportionate burden of implementation in solo and rural primary health care practice settings. While I agree with Dr. Van Swol on many points, it is important to note that the overall uptake of this technology is very poor (1) and that the types and interoperability of electronic health records being implemented vary greatly (2). Data variability and consistency across ...References1. Jha AK, Ferris TG, Donelan K, DesRoches C, Shields A, Rosenbaum S, et al. How common are electronic health records in the United States? A summary of the evidence. Health Aff (Millwood). 2006;25:w496-507. Epub 2006 Oct 11. PMID: 17035341] Google Scholar2. Valdes I, Kibbe DC, Tolleson G, Kunik ME, Petersen LA. Barriers to proliferation of electronic medical records. Inform Prim Care. 2004;12:3-9. [PMID: 15140347] MedlineGoogle Scholar3. Health Information Technology Promotion Act of 2006. Hearings on HR 4157 before the House Committee on Ways and Means, 109th Cong, 2nd Sess (2006). Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Michael E. DeBakey Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas.Disclosures: None disclosed. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoDoes Pay-for-Performance Improve the Quality of Health Care? Laura A. Petersen , LeChauncy D. Woodard , Tracy Urech , Christina Daw , and Supicha Sookanan Does Pay-for-Performance Improve the Quality of Health Care? Mark A. Van Swol Metrics Cited byCurrent World Literature 3 April 2007Volume 146, Issue 7Page: 538-539KeywordsElectronic medical recordsHealth careHealth care policyHealth care qualityHealth services researchLegislationMotivationPrimary careResearch quality assessmentScience policy ePublished: 3 April 2007 Issue Published: 3 April 2007 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2007 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...