Researchers developed and tested the HARM score (hospital stay, readmission and mortality rates) using administrative data to measure the quality of colorectal surgeries. They calculated a HARM score from one to 10 based on length of stay, vital status and 30-day readmissions for 81,622 colectomy discharges from 2010 to 2011. The average HARM score was 3.04 for emergent and 2.64 for elective cases. As the HARM score increased, the average rate of complications increased for both emergent and elective surgeries:
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Hospitals with a HARM score less than 2
Emergent: 30.3 percent
Elective: 15.2 percent
Hospitals with a HARM score from 2 to 3
Emergent: 41.9 percent
Elective: 18.2 percent
Hospitals with a HARM score from 3 to 4
Emergent: 49.3 percent
Elective: 24.0 percent
Hospitals with a HARM score 4 or greater
Emergent: 56.6 percent
Elective: 35.6 percent
The authors concluded that providers can use the HARM score to easily and reliably assess colorectal surgery quality.
More Articles on Quality Measures:
Researchers Develop Global Measure of Hospital Quality
7 Ways to Use Key Quality Metrics to Improve Gastroenterology Centers
Surgical Mortality, Volume Predict Readmissions Rate
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