Work

Games People Play: Lessons on Performance Measure Gaming from New Zealand Comment on "Gaming New Zealand’s Emergency Department Target: How and Why Did It Vary Over Time and Between Organisations?"

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: For decades, observers have noted that gaming of performance measurement appears to be both endemic and endlessly creative. A recent study by Tenbensel and colleagues provides a detailed look at gaming of a health system performance measure-emergency department (ED) wait times-within four hospitals in New Zealand. Combined, these four hospitals handled more than 25% of the ED visits in the country each year. Tenbensel and colleagues examine whether the New Zealand ED wait time target was set appropriately and whether we can trust any performance measure statistics that are not independently verified or audited. Their thoughtprovoking examination is relevant to anyone working in quality improvement and provides a valuable set of tools for detecting gaming in performance measurement.

Source: International Journal of Health Policy and Management

DOI: 10.34172/ijhpm.2020.41

Author: Lisa M. Lines

Institutions: University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, RTI International

Language: English

Topic: Healthcare Quality and Management

Subfield: Health Information Management

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: RTI International