Template of Measure Attributes

The Template of Measure Attributes is the primary tool used to develop NQMC measure summaries. This template lists each measure attribute, its description, and controlled vocabulary values where applicable. Attributes required to meet the NQMC Inclusion Criteria are in bold-face type.

Measure Domain
Title	Identifies the title of the measure.
Source(s)	Identifies the complete bibliographic source(s) for the measure as disseminated by the measure submitter(s).
Primary Measure Domain	Classifies the major focus of the measure according to the domain of health-related measurement.	Choose one: Clinical Quality Measure: Structure Clinical Quality Measure: Process Clinical Quality Measure: Outcome Clinical Quality Measure: Access Clinical Quality Measure: Patient Experience Related Health Care Delivery Measure: Management Related Health Care Delivery Measure: Use of Services Related Health Care Delivery Measure: User-enrollee Health State Related Health Care Delivery Measure: Cost Clinical Efficiency Measure Population Health Quality Measure: Population Structure Population Health Quality Measure: Population Process Population Health Quality Measure: Population Outcome Population Health Quality Measure: Population Access Population Health Quality Measure: Population Experience Related Population Health Measure: Population Management Related Population Health Measure: Population Use of Services Related Population Health Measure: Population Health State Related Population Health Measure: Population Cost Related Population Health Measure: Population Health Knowledge Related Population Health Measure: Social Determinants of Health Related Population Health Measure: Environment Population Efficiency Measure
Secondary Measure Domain	Identifies the secondary focus of the measure according to the domain(s) of health-related measurement (if applicable).	Choose one: Does not apply to this measure Clinical Quality Measure: Structure Clinical Quality Measure: Process Clinical Quality Measure: Outcome Clinical Quality Measure: Access Clinical Quality Measure: Patient Experience Related Health Care Delivery Measure: Management Related Health Care Delivery Measure: Use of Services Related Health Care Delivery Measure: User-enrollee Health State Related Health Care Delivery Measure: Cost Clinical Efficiency Measure Population Health Quality Measure: Population Structure Population Health Quality Measure: Population Process Population Health Quality Measure: Population Outcome Population Health Quality Measure: Population Access Population Health Quality Measure: Population Experience Related Population Health Measure: Population Management Related Population Health Measure: Population Use of Services Related Population Health Measure: Population Health State Related Population Health Measure: Population Cost Related Population Health Measure: Population Health Knowledge Related Population Health Measure: Social Determinants of Health Related Population Health Measure: Environment Population Efficiency Measure
Brief Abstract
Description	Provides a concise statement of the specific aspects of health, the target population, providers, setting(s), and time period that the measure addresses.
Rationale	Identifies the rationale that briefly explains the importance of the measure (i.e., why it is used).
Evidence for Rationale	Identifies citation(s) submitted by the developer related to the rationale for the measure.
Primary Health Components	Identifies the aspect of health to which the measure refers, such as a structural feature, a condition, a process, a health outcome, and/or a patient or population characteristic. A combination of components may be identified (e.g., colorectal cancer; screening).
Denominator Description	Provides the general specifications of any descriptive component that is the basis for inclusions and exclusions in the denominator.
Numerator Description	Provides the general specifications of any descriptive component that is the basis for inclusions and exclusions in the numerator.
Evidence Supporting the Measure
Type of Evidence Supporting the Criterion of Quality for the Measure	Indicates the types of evidence supporting the criterion of quality. Evidence must be specified for measures in the domains: Clinical Quality, Clinical Efficiency, Population Health Quality, and Population Efficiency.	No criterion of quality specified OR Choose all that apply: A clinical practice guideline or other peer-reviewed synthesis of the research evidence A formal consensus procedure, involving experts in relevant clinical, methodological, public health and organizational sciences A systematic review of the research literature (e.g., Cochrane Review) Focus groups One or more research studies published in a National Library of Medicine (NLM) indexed, peer-reviewed journal
Additional Information Supporting Need for the Measure	Describes additional characteristics for the measure supplied by the developer, including the clinical component, environment and public health issues (e.g. incidence/prevalence, burden of illness, costs, etc.).
Evidence for Additional Information Supporting Need for the Measure	Identifies citation(s) supplied by the developer documenting evidence concerning the measure, including the criterion of quality.
Extent of Measure Testing	Describes the extent of testing of the measure specifications, including reliability and/or validity testing.
Evidence for Extent of Measure Testing	Identifies citation(s) documenting measure testing as described in the Extent of Measure Testing field.
National Guideline Clearinghouse Link	Identifies link(s) to guideline summary(s) in the National Guideline Clearinghouse™ (NGC) where the measure was developed from an evidence-based guideline.
State of Use of the Measure
State of Use	Identifies the status of the measure regarding its use within the past three years by health-related organizations.	Choose one: Current routine use Pilot testing
Current Use	Classifies the current use(s) of the measure by quality initiative and constituency.	Unspecified OR Choose all that apply: Accreditation Collaborative inter-organizational quality improvement Decision-making by businesses about health plan purchasing Decision-making by consumers about health plan/provider choice Decision-making by health plans about provider contracting Decision-making by managers about resource allocation External oversight/Department of Defense/TRICARE External oversight/Health plans External oversight/Indian Health Service External oversight/Maternal and Child Health Bureau External oversight/Medicaid External oversight/Medicare External oversight/Other national programs External oversight/Prison health care systems External oversight/Regional, county, or city agencies External oversight/State government program External oversight/Veterans Health Administration Internal quality improvement Monitoring and planning Monitoring health state(s) National health care facility monitoring National health policymaking National reporting Pay-for-performance Pay-for-reporting Population health improvement Professional certification Public reporting Quality of care research Regional, county, or city health policymaking State/Provincial health policymaking
Application of the Measure in its Current Use
Measurement Setting	Classifies the settings for which the measure was developed.	Unspecified OR Choose all that apply: Ambulatory/Office-based Care Ancillary Services Behavioral Health Care Community Health Care Emergency Medical Services Home Care Hospices Hospitals Long-term Care Facilities Managed Care Plans National Public Health Programs Regional, County, or City Public Health Programs Rehabilitation Centers Residential Care Facilities Rural Health Care State/Provincial Public Health Programs Substance Use Treatment Programs/Centers Other
Professionals Involved in Delivery of Health Services	Classifies the professional(s) involved in delivering the services addressed by the measure.	Choose one: Unspecified Does not apply to this measure (e.g., measure is not provider specific) OR Choose all that apply: Advanced Practice Nurses Allied Health Personnel Chiropractors Clergy Clinical Administrators/Managers Clinical Laboratory Personnel Dentists Dietitians Emergency Medical Technicians/Paramedics Health Educators Midwife Nurses Occupational Therapists Optometrists Pharmacists Physical Therapists Physician Assistants Physicians Podiatrists Psychologists/Non-physician Behavioral Health Clinicians Public Health Administrators/Managers Public Health Professionals Respiratory Care Practitioners Social Workers Speech-language Pathologists
Least Aggregated Level of Services Delivery Addressed	Classifies the most discrete level of services delivery for which the measure was developed.	Choose one: Unspecified Clinical Practice or Public Health Sites Individual Clinicians or Public Health Professionals Metropolitan Statistical Areas/Health Services Areas Multisite Health Care or Public Health Organizations National Regional, County, or City Single Health Care Delivery or Public Health Organizations State/Provincial
Statement of Acceptable Minimum Sample Size	Indicates whether the measure defines a minimum sample size for the denominator.	Choose one: Does not apply to this measure Unspecified Specified
Target Population Age	Describes the age range for the population measured.
Target Population Gender	Classifies the target population by gender.
Institute of Medicine (IOM) National Health Care Quality Report Categories
IOM Care Need	Classifies the measure into one of four Institute of Medicine (IOM) care need classifications where applicable.	Not within an IOM Care Need OR Choose all that apply: End of Life Care Getting Better Living with Illness Staying Healthy
IOM Domain	Classifies the measure into one or more of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) care domains where applicable.	Not within an IOM Care Need OR Choose all that apply: Effectiveness Efficiency Equity Patient-centeredness Safety Timeliness
Data Collection for the Measure
Case Finding Period	The time period that is searched to determine if a case/event is potentially eligible in the denominator.
Denominator Sampling Frame	Classifies the specification for selecting cases/events potentially eligible for inclusion in the denominator, from which a more restrictive sample of cases is sometimes selected.	Choose one: Does not apply to this measure Clinical information Enrollees or beneficiaries Equipment/Supplies Geographically defined Health care or public health organization Organizationally defined (non-health care organizations) Patients associated with provider Professionals/Staff Other
Denominator (Index) Event or Characteristic	Identifies the event or characteristic that defines eligibility for inclusion in the denominator group.	Does not apply to this measure OR Choose all that apply: Clinical Condition Diagnostic Evaluation Encounter Geographic Location Health Care/Public Health Organization Characteristic Health Professional Characteristic Institutionalization Patient/Individual (Consumer) Characteristic Therapeutic Intervention
Denominator Time Window	The Denominator Time Window is associated with the denominator index event and classifies the time period in which occurrences identified as potentially eligible for inclusion in the denominator are reviewed to determine whether or not they are finally included.	Choose one: Unspecified Does not apply to this measure Time window brackets index event Time window follows index event Time window precedes index event
Denominator Inclusions/Exclusions	Describes the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria used to refine the denominator.
Exclusions/Exceptions	Identifies the type of analytic considerations made for the measure based on barriers to performance of an evidence-based process.	Choose one: Unspecified Does not apply to this measure OR Choose all that apply: Medical factors addressed Patient factors addressed System factors addressed
Numerator Inclusions/Exclusions	Describes the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria used to refine the numerator.
Numerator Search Strategy	Identifies the type of situation that isolates cases for inclusion in the numerator.	Choose one: Unspecified Does not apply to this measure Encounter Episode of care Fixed time period or point in time Institutionalization
Data Source	Identifies the data source(s) necessary to implement the measure.	Choose all that apply: Unspecified Administrative clinical data Administrative management data Clinical training documentation Documentation of organizational self-assessment Electronic health/medical record External audit Health professional survey Imaging data Inspections/Site visits Laboratory data National public health data Organizational policies and procedures Paper medical record Patient/Individual survey Pharmacy data Provider characteristics Region, county, or city public health data Registry data Special or unique data State/Province public health data
Type of Health State	Classifies the type of health state for Outcome, User-enrollee Health State, Population Outcome, and Population Health State measures.	Choose one: Does not apply to this measure Adverse Health State Clinically Diagnosed Condition Death Functional Status Health Risk State or Behavior Individually Reported Health State Physiologic Health State (Intermediate Outcome) Proxy for Health State Proxy for Outcome
Instruments Used and/or Associated with the Measure	Identifies all instruments, such as a standardized survey instrument or flowsheet, used in implementing the measure.
Computation of the Measure
Measure Specifies Disaggregation	Describes whether the measure can be disaggregated based on variant approaches to splitting the denominator or numerator.	Choose one: Measure is disaggregated into categories based on different definitions of the denominator and/or numerator Does not apply to this measure
Basis for Disaggregation	Describes the variant specifications of denominator or numerator.
Scoring	Identifies the method used to score the measure.	Choose all that apply: Composite/Scale Count Dichotomous Frequency Distribution Mean/Median Rate/Proportion Ratio Weighted Score
Interpretation of Score	Classifies interpretation of score according to the desired value.	Choose one: Does not apply to this measure (i.e., there is no pre-defined preference for the measure score) Desired value is a higher score Desired value is a lower score Desired value is a passing score (relative to a defined benchmark) Desired value is a score falling within a defined interval Desired value is absence of a characteristic Desired value is presence of a characteristic
Allowance for Patient or Population Factors	Identifies the type of analytic considerations made for the measure based on patient or population factors or characteristics.	Choose one: Unspecified Does not apply to this measure OR Choose all that apply: Analysis by high-risk subgroup (stratification by vulnerable populations) Analysis by subgroup (stratification by individual factors, geographic factors, etc.) Case-mix adjustment Paired data at patient level Risk adjustment devised specifically for this measure/condition Risk adjustment method widely or commercially available
Description of Allowance for Patient or Population Factors	Describes the analytic considerations made for the measure based on the patient or population factors and characteristics.
Standard of Comparison	Classifies the type and time frame of the comparison according to whether the comparison is external (at a given point-in-time or of a time trend), internal or to a prescriptive standard.	Choose one: Unspecified Does not apply to this measure OR Choose all that apply: External comparison at a point in, or interval of, time External comparison of time trends Internal time comparison Prescriptive standard
Prescriptive Standard	Describes the prescriptive standard(s) used for comparison of measure results.
Evidence for Prescriptive Standard	Identifies citation(s) documenting information provided in the Prescriptive Standard field.
Identifying Information
Original Title	Identifies the original name of the measure as stated in the original measure documentation.
Measure Collection Name	Identifies the name of the collection of measures to which the measure belongs (if applicable).
Measure Set Name	Identifies the name of the measure set to which the measure belongs (if applicable).
Measure Subset Name	Identifies the name of the subset to which the measure belongs (if applicable).
Composite Measure Name	Identifies the name of the composite measure to which the measure belongs (if applicable).
Submitter	Identifies the organization(s) that submitted the measure to NQMC. Each organization is classified by the major designation or function (derived from the Organization Type attribute), such as "Medical Specialty Society" or "Professional Association."
Developer	Identifies the organization(s) that developed the measure. Each organization is classified by the major designation or function (derived from the Organization Type attribute), such as "Medical Specialty Society" or "Professional Association."
Funding Source(s)	Identifies source(s) of funding to the developer organization(s) for measure development.
Composition of the Group that Developed the Measure	Describes the composition of the group/committee that developed the measure, including professional degrees and affiliations, and lists the names of individual committee members, where given.
Financial Disclosures/Other Potential Conflicts of Interest	Records and makes publically available disclosed relationships between individuals of the measure development committee/group/individual and for-profit and not-for-profit companies or organizations that could potentially influence that individual's contribution to the measure’s development.
Endorser	Identifies the organization(s) that have endorsed the measure (e.g., NQF).
Date of Endorsement	Identifies the date on which the measure was endorsed.
Measure Initiative(s)	Identifies the inclusion of a measure in specified measure initiatives (e.g., National Healthcare Quality Report [NHQR], National Healthcare Disparities Report [NHDR], Home Health Compare).
Adaptation	Identifies whether the measure has been adapted *from* another measure(s) and if so, the name(s) of the measures from which the current measure was adapted and the measure’s developer, when available.
Date of Most Current Version in NQMC	Identifies the date of the most recent version of the measure in NQMC according to the documentation provided by the submitting organization.
Measure Maintenance	Identifies the frequency with which the measure is reviewed/updated by the developer organization(s).
Date of Next Anticipated Revision	Identifies the next date on which the developer intends to update the measure.
Measure Status	Identifies whether the measure is the current release or an update.
Source(s)	Identifies the complete bibliographic source(s) for the measure as disseminated by the measure submitter(s).
Measure Availability	Identifies contact information for requesting the measure documentation. Where possible, information regarding electronic (including hypertext links to the original measure documentation) and print copies is provided.
eMeasure Availability	Identifies whether the measure comes in a form that includes specifications for use in an electronic health record environment.	Choose one: Yes No
eMeasure Source	Provides a Web link to the eMeasure specifications, if available.
Companion Documents	Identifies companion documents that are relevant to the measure. These companion documents are not necessarily available within NQMC.
NQMC Status	Identifies when the measure summary was completed or revised by ECRI Institute and verified by the submitting organization(s).
Copyright Statement	Provides the copyright statement of the organization that submitted the measure.
Disclaimer
NQMC Disclaimer	Provides disclaimer information about the relationship between NQMC (including its sponsoring Agency AHRQ, and its contractor ECRI Institute) and the measures and measure developers represented on the Web site.

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