GR03
Focusing Healthcare Quality Improvement Dollars: Using SAS for Geographic Targeting
Contributed
Barbara B. Okerson, Ph.D.
Virginia Health Quality Center
,Charlotte F. Carroll, M.S.
Virginia Health Quality Center Abstract:
The Virginia Health Quality Center (VHQC) is a health care quality improvement organization that assists healthcare providers in making successful and meaningful changes in the way care is delivered and in improving outcomes of that care, especially for th
e Medicare community of Virginia. In an effort to maximize available resources, geographic analysis is used both to (1) identify regions, and providers within regions, most in need of improvement for defined quality indicators and (2) identify locations of
excellence from which opinion leaders can be recruited. From within defined clinical topics, areas for quality improvement focus are selected for regions based on overall lower rates for this topic relative to other regions. Speakers are recruited within
each region based on high rates and successful implementation of a quality improvement project. This methodology is used both in inpatient and outpatient settings. The SAS software system provides a variety of tools for spatial data analysis and display. G
eographic data display methods include the integrated use of maps, box plots, pie charts, and tables, as well as a multi-graph display technique. The focus of this presentation will be these methods. All output is created using SAS software, version 8.2 on
a Windows 98 platform.