AHRQ Quality Indicators 101: Slide Presentation

Structure of AHRQ QI

• Definitions based on
  • ICD-9-CM* diagnosis and procedure codes
  • Often along with DRG, MDC, sex, age, procedure dates, admission type, admission source, discharge disposition, discharge quarter (new)
• Numerator is the number of cases "flagged" with the outcome of interest (e.g., postoperative sepsis, avoidable hospitalization for asthma, death)
• Denominator is the population at risk (e.g., pneumonia patients, elective surgical patients, county population from census data)
• The observed rate is numerator/denominator
• Volume counts for selected procedures