Abstract
The New Jersey Home Care Association initiated and conducted a benchmarking project in collaboration with the New Jersey Hospital Association involving the examination of the Outcome and Assessment Information Set and Outcome Based Quality Improvement (OBQI) reports generated byhome health agencies. The purpose was to determine if statewide trends existed. The plan was flexible and dependent upon the data results, but the design of appropriate educational programs for member agencies prior to the onset of risk-adjusted reports and Medicare’s mandated benchmarking was anticipated. Although no clear trends were identified as a result of the survey, the project was an important first effort that offered direct experience with the process of outcomes measurement and helped to demonstrate the value of data analysis to all agencies. Because of the project, agencies recognized the need to become informed about, participate in, and prepare for the next steps of Medicare’s OBQI and Outcome Based Quality Monitoring.
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