AHS delivers health services in five zones, each with different populations and geography. The measures presented here track our current and projected performance in a broad range of indicators that span the continuum of care. They include primary care, continuing care, population and public health, and acute (hospital-based) care. Among others, these measures touch upon various dimensions of quality such as timeliness, effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction rates.
AHS has initiated a formal process to assess the quality of the performance measures listed in this report, with priority given to the Tier 1 measures highlighted in the 2012-2015 Health Plan. The Data Quality and Operational Readiness (DQOR) review process involves multiple stakeholders in an assessment of the people, processes, and information systems responsible for reporting on a given performance measure which, depending on the measure, can take between three to six months to complete. DQOR assessments have been completed for: Hip and Knee Replacement Surgery Wait Times, ED Length of Stay for both admitted and discharged patients within the higher volume EDs, and Continuing Care Wait Lists and Times.
An informal assessment of data quality has been conducted for all performance measures included in this report. Operational areas were asked to complete a questionnaire using a subset of items from the formal DQOR review process. Where complete, the results of this informal assessment have been translated into one of the following statements:
This report contains a high-level system (provincial) dashboard which offers a summary view of AHS performance against the targets we have established for 2012/13. This provincial dashboard shows the target for the 2012/13 year and the actual year-to-date performance for the fourth quarter ending March 31, 2013 (this is the same as the annual performance). The dashboard also compares the annual performance against the annual performance from last year. In looking at the actual performance, if the ‘stretch’ target has been missed, we would still seek to demonstrate improvement over time enabling us to confidently make the right changes to our health system.
In addition to the provincial dashboard, a zone comparison dashboard has been included to allow for an at-a-glance view of performance against the provincial targets across each zone (the five geographies providing integrated health services).
Individual zone dashboards are included as well (following the same format as the provincial dashboard), which present each zone’s performance against the provincial targets. It should be noted that some performance measures have not been allocated to the zone level due to the nature of a provincial service delivery model.
Following the dashboard views, you also have access to one-page descriptions of each indicator with additional access to detailed definitions, comments on existing performance, actions being taken by AHS to improve performance, more detailed information by zone or site (as appropriate to the specific indicator), and other useful information. Where available, these descriptions have volume graphs included. These graphs have year-to-date volumes for 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13. Under the volumes there is a “per cent change”. This per cent change is the change from 2011/12 year-to-date to 2012/13 year-to-date.
Data availability for quarterly updates varies due to data source differences. All but six of the quarterly performance measures in this report are updated to the fourth quarter (January – March 2013) and fourth quarter year-to-date (April 2012 – March, 2013). For those indicators reporting third quarter 2012/13 data (October – December, 2012), the following table explains the reasons for the one quarter reporting lag:
Quarterly Measures with a One Quarter Reporting Lag | Data Timeline Clarification |
Patient Satisfaction – Acute Care |
This measure is generated from survey data, where patients are called up to six weeks after they leave the hospital. Data are then prepared and analyzed for reporting. This results in data being available approximately two months after the end of each quarter. |
Patient Satisfaction – Emergency Department | This measure is generated from survey data, where patients are called up to six weeks after their Emergency Department visit. Data are then prepared and analyzed for reporting. This results in data being available approximately two months after the end of each quarter. |
Infection Prevention and Control measures:
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These measures currently undergo a more rigorous internal review process at both the zone and provincial level prior to results being released. |
30 Day All Cause Unplanned Readmission Rate | Readmission rates are attributed to the quarter in which a patient is originally discharged from a hospital. This requires that patients be tracked for readmission 30 days after the end of a quarter. Data are lagged by a quarter for this reason. |
This report contains the most currently available data for all performance measures. In addition to those measures updated quarterly, several other measures are updated on a less frequent basis. These measures are detailed as follows with a timeline for their next anticipated update:
Performance Measure | Reporting Frequency | Next Update |
Life Expectancy | Annual | Q1, 2013/14 |
Potential Years of Life Lost | Annual | Q1, 2013/14 |
Colorectal Cancer Screening Rate | Annual | Q1, 2013/14 |
Breast Cancer Screening Participation Rate | Annual | Q1, 2013/14 |
Cervical Cancer Screening Participation Rate | Annual | Q1, 2013/14 |
Seniors Influenza Immunization Rate | Annual | Q4, 2013/14 |
Children’s Influenza Immunization Rate | Annual | Q4, 2013/14 |
Childhood Immunization Rate for DTaP | Annual | Q4, 2013/14 |
Childhood Immunization Rate for MMR | Annual | Q4, 2013/14 |
Albertans Enrolled in a Primary Care Network | Semi-annual | Q1, 2013/14 |
Rating of Care Nursing Home – Family | Every 3 years | 2013/14 |
Staff Overall Engagement | Annual | Q4, 2013/14 |
Medical Staff Overall Engagement | Annual | Q4, 2013/14 |
Patient Satisfaction – Addiction and Mental Health | Annual | Q4, 2013/14 |
Albertans Reporting Unexpected Harm | Annual | Q3, 2013/14 |
Patient Satisfaction – Health Care Personally Received | Annual | Q3, 2013/14 |
Hand Hygiene | Annual | Q2, 2013/14 |
Data included in this report come from Alberta Health Services, Alberta Health, Health Quality Council of Alberta, and Statistics Canada.