The Performance Measurement Matrix: A Framework to Optimize Decision Making

Patient care executives and performance improvement specialists continually are challenged to make decisions that have far-reaching effects on cost, productivity, and the quality of patient care. With multiple stakeholders to serve, minimal time to consider options, and an overabundance of data, new approaches to assessing and monitoring quality are needed. This article describes a framework and process to assist health care leaders in making informed and timely decisions. Six dimensions of health care--patients, caregivers, the organization, quality, efficiency, and cost--are assessed within the organization's context for overall impact on performance.