Model Public Report Elements: A Sampler

B. Separate Information for Consumer vs. Provider

The data needs of consumers, on the one hand, and providers on the other, are different, as is their ability to interpret technical, clinical, and statistical details. In particular, research shows that consumers may not understand clinical terms such as "hemoglobin A1C" or statistical concepts such as confidence intervals. Community quality collaboratives might consider having different reporting formats and reporting sources for consumers versus providers.

In the example below, the Puget Sound Health Alliance uses a report for medical groups that includes many clinical and statistical terms. However, they also have a Web site targeting consumers that uses more everyday language and provides less clinical detail (shown in the second screenshot below). The report is available to participating providers through a password-restricted Web site. It provides performance rates with 95 percent confidence intervals and sample sizes on a variety of process measures, allowing the groups to benchmark themselves against regional averages.

Tool: Blinded Medical Group and County Comparison Reports—All Payers

Sponsor: Puget Sound Health Alliance

URL: http://www.wacommunitycheckup.org 
[Note: URL is for community site; this page is an example from the restricted access site]

This consumer-oriented report presents a simple three-tiered rating system for level of diabetes care (above, at, or below regional average), although more details are available.

Tool: Health Alliance Community Checkup

Sponsor: Puget Sound Health Alliance

URL: http://www.wacommunitycheckup.org/?p=viewreports&orgname=all&county=All+Counties

This is another example of a report specifically targeted to providers, allowing them to look at their performance at the patient level. Access to this type of information—data reports and patient-level detail—requires secure sign-in to protect patient confidentiality.

Tool: Partner for Quality Care for Practitioners

Sponsor: Oregon Health Care Quality Corp

URL: http://www.partnerforqualitycareforpractitioners.org/practitioners.php

Another option is to provide a common portal and public access, but to separate consumer reports from provider reports. The data presentation may be the same, but the tips, tools, resources, and advice on using the site can be tailored to each audience.

The report below is designed for both consumers and providers. However, the Patient Guide differs from the Practitioner Guide in its tips, tools, resources, and advice.

Tool: Maryland Hospital Performance Evaluation Guide

Sponsor: Maryland Health Care Commission

URL: http://mhcc.maryland.gov/consumerinfo/hospitalguide/index.htm

Below is an example where the data available for selection are simplified for the consumer and more detailed for the professional or researcher. This report is intended for consumers and providers. However, selecting the "researchers and professionals" link allows the user to access much more detailed information. For example, on the researchers and professionals portal for hospital inpatient data, the user can search by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) Principal Diagnosis Code and then select the desired demographics, including race, sex, county, payer type, admission source, and admission type. A link is also provided to download administrative data. By contrast, on the consumer portal for hospital inpatient data, the user can select only the age group, subgroup of hospitals to compare, and a general condition category such as asthma.

Tool: FloridaHealthFinder.gov

Sponsor: Florida Agency for Health Care Administration

URL: http://www.floridahealthfinder.gov/about-ahca/Sitemap.shtml