Using Patient Reported Outcomes To Measure Value In Healthcare

A blog about how to use PROMS to measure the quality of physical therapy treatment.

Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) have become an important tool in measuring the quality of healthcare services. PROMs, which are a specific type of PROs, refer to health outcomes that are reported directly by patients, often through standardized questionnaires. In the field of physical therapy, PROMs can be used to measure the effectiveness of treatment and help clinicians identify areas for improvement. This blog will discuss how PROMs can be used to measure the quality of physical therapy treatment.

The primary goal of physical therapy is to help patients achieve their functional goals, such as regaining strength and mobility after an injury or surgery. PROMs allow patients to report their progress towards these goals, providing valuable insights into the effectiveness of the treatment they are receiving. Using PROMs in physical therapy can help clinicians:

1. Identify areas for improvement: PROMs can help clinicians identify areas where patients are not achieving their functional goals and tailor treatment plans accordingly.

2. Monitor progress over time: By administering PROMs at different points during treatment, clinicians can track patient progress and adjust treatment plans as needed.

3. Demonstrate the value of physical therapy: By using PROMs to measure outcomes, clinicians can demonstrate the value of physical therapy to payers and stakeholders.

4. The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES) is a questionnaire used to assess shoulder pain and function. It was developed by the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) to standardize the assessment of shoulder function and to allow for comparison of outcomes across different studies. The ASES questionnaire consists of two parts: a patient- reported section and a physician-reported section. The patient-reported section includes 10 questions that assess pain and activities of daily living (ADLs) related to the shoulder. The physician-reported section includes two questions that assess shoulder range of motion and strength.

5. The Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS): The KOOS is a questionnaire that assesses pain and function related to knee injuries and osteoarthritis.

Using PROMs in physical therapy requires a structured approach to data collection and analysis. Here are some steps to consider:

1. Choose the appropriate PROMs: Select the PROMs that best measure the outcomes of interest in your patient population.

2. Determine when to administer PROMs: Administer PROMs at the beginning of treatment and at regular intervals throughout the course of treatment.

3. Interpret the results: Use the results of the PROMs to identify areas where patients are not achieving their functional goals and to tailor treatment plans accordingly.

4. Monitor progress: Track patient progress over time by administering PROMs at regular intervals.

5. Use the data: Use the data collected from PROMs to demonstrate the value of physical therapy to payers and stakeholders.

PROMs are an important tool in measuring the quality of physical therapy treatment. By collecting data directly from patients, clinicians can gain valuable insights into the effectiveness of treatment and identify areas for improvement. Choosing the appropriate PROMs, administering them at regular intervals, and using the data collected to monitor progress and tailor treatment plans can help clinicians demonstrate the value of physical therapy to payers and stakeholders.