On Developing the Tools and Metrics for a Neurosurgical Quality Program

With the current trends in the healthcare environment, it has become essential to develop means with which to improve quality, patient satisfaction, and efficiency while reducing costs. These mounting pressures are affecting how the neurosurgeon practices, how the neurosurgeon is evaluated, and how the neurosurgeon is compensated. Neurosurgical engagement in this continuous evolution of healthcare policy is imperative. Neurosurgeons should be the ones developing best practices and guidelines for neurosurgical care. Also, they must determine the processes to ensure that others are implementing those best practices. Development of a quality/safety program to measure and analyze neurosurgical complications and outcomes is a means with which to implement initiatives aimed at improving that performance. Determining which tools and metrics with which to measure quality and safety, patient satisfaction, and efficiency or throughput is essential.