Study shows real-time feedback improves physician practice, quality

Physicians show a notable improvement in compliance when they have real-time access to compliance rates and associated financial incentives, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins University.

Researchers tracked 38 part- and full-time hospitalists, who were required as part of the study to complete venous thromboembolism — or blood clot — risk assessments, for nearly 3,150 patients using a CPOE system. This system provided the hospitalists with a risk-appropriate recommendation.

VTE prevention international compliance rates frequently plunge below 50 percent in low-performing facilities, and high-performing facilities generally hit compliance rates over 95 percent. In the study, when physicians were provided with real-time, Web-based compliance rates, VTE prevention compliance rates improved from 86 percent to 90 percent over six months. When physicians were also provided with pay-for-performance incentive information in real-time, compliance rates improved to 94 percent in 18 months.

The financial incentives ranged from $53 to $1,244, with nearly all payments less than $1,000. The incentives were a way to engage physicians, but "no one got wealthy off the pay-for-performance program," Henry Michtalik, MD, lead author of the study said, according to the report.

 

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