Process: Define the Problem

Defining the Problem & Determining the Outcome

Any project that is designed to improve outcomes must first begin with a thorough understanding of the underlying problem. Just as a sore throat may be symptomatic of an upper respiratory infection, quality problems may first appear as superficial “symptoms”, such as a rise in costs or utilization. HPC can help with data gathering and analysis in order to define the underlying problem.

Measuring the effectiveness of interventions requires the use of existing data, or the collection of new data, before and after the intervention. Measures should be close to the problem defined, and meaningful so that changing them will have tangible value to the organization. Outcome measures may be direct, as with knowledge or skills change, or indirect, as with patient outcomes. It is important to set outcome measures in the early stages of a project so that the goals of the project are clear from the beginning.