This issue of Prevention Report provides an overview and examples of performance measurement. More information is available in the literature and via the Internet, as the list of selected resources below illustrates.
The Foundation for Accountability (FAcct) produces reports and guidebooks to address consumer needs for accountability information. No web site currently is available, but information may be obtained by calling (503)223-2228 or through e-mail to info@facct.org.
The General Accounting Office has produced a number of reports and testimonies relating to performance measurement. Relevant reports, listed by publication date, include:
Documents can be ordered and further information can be obtained through the U.S. General Accounting Office, P.O. Box 6015, Gaithersburg, MD 20884-6015; (202)512-6000. Some documents are available online at http://www.gao.gov. Others may be ordered through the site.
The National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) serves public and private organizations as a resource of advice and expertise on public management and administration. The web site at http://relm.lmi.org/napa/index.html describes each program area, offers recent reports and products, and has a search engine to locate other performance measurement sources. For information, call (202)347-3190.
The Alliance for Redesigning Government, a NAPA program (see above), offers extensive information on performance measurement and government. The web site at http://www.clearlake.ibm.com/Alliance/ features alliance projects and links to other references, the Reinventing Government database, and The Public Innovator online news bulletin.
As mentioned in Spotlight, the National Academy of Sciences is studying performance measurement in mental health; substance abuse; HIV infection, sexually transmitted diseases, and tuberculosis; chronic diseases; immunization; and three areas of prevention (disabilities, rape, and emergency medical services). The draft Assessment of Performance Measures in Public Health: Phase I Report is available on the web at http://www.dhhs.gov/progorg/io. The final report is due in spring 1997. Additional related reports are:
Copies are available from the National Academy Press, Office of News and Public Information, 2101 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20418; (201)334-3313 or (800)624-6242.
The National Performance Review is the initiative led by Vice President Gore to reinvent government so that it works better and costs less. The web site offers background on the initiative, reports of its studies, a library, and links. Valuable resources include Reaching Public Goals: Managing Government for Results-A Resource Guide, T. Brandt, B. Godwin, H. Hadd, and B. Rollins, eds. Washington, DC: National Performance Review, 1996. For further information, visit the web site at http://www.npr.gov or call (202)632-0150. State/Local/International
The web sites listed below feature a sponsor's performance efforts or offer general performance measurement updates, articles, and references.
The Agency for Health Care Policy Research has designed CONQUEST 1.0, a computer tool that uses clinical performance measures for health plans, providers, and purchasers to assess service quality. For information on CONQUEST 1.0, visit the web site at http://www.ahcpr.gov/qual/conquest.htm research/conquest. htm. For details on the agency, see http://www.ahcpr.gov.
With a focus on performance, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) evaluates and reports on the quality of managed health care plans. NCQA created HEDISr 3.0, a measurement tool for consumers, corporations, and public purchasers to assess quality of health plans. NCQA recently released its Quality Compass reports that present comparative information of accreditation and HEDIS measures for managed care plans. The web site at http://www.ncqa.org offers information on the committee's findings, as well as links to HEDIS and its reports.
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