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In current methods of profile monitoring, standards of acceptability (cut-offs) are set either by consulting panels of experts, or by selecting an arbitrary point (e.g., the 75th percentile) on the profile (statistical distribution). However, experts have only vague ideas of what outcome rates ought to be, while profile statistics stem from samples for which unknown percentages of cases have received acceptable care. Poorly chosen standards could cause profile monitoring to be ineffective, inefficient, or unnecessarily disruptive. A new method proposes to set standards by using statistics for which the percentage of adequate care has been predetermined by examining the process of care. Plans to circumvent the pitfalls involved are described, as are two approaches to estimating the degree of process adequacy from routinely produced outcome rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For over 80 per cent of a national sample of local health agencies in the United States, minimum program standards are specified by the state, by law, regulation, or some other policy method. The performance standards that are used are a mix of state and local standards, with one-third of the agencies reporting that the Model Standards were used in developing their own standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the joint resolution of the American Public Health Association (APHA) and other health organizations in the U.S. in support of the National Public Health Performance Standards Program. The organizations include the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, the National Association of County and City Health Officials, the National Association of Local Boards of Health, the Public Health Foundation, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. APHA advocates the implementation, including appropriate quality management standards and performance indicators for mental health services, of the National Public Health Performance Standards Program nationwide.

The article discusses the role of the American Public Health Association (APHA) in defining and outlining the health role in housing. The association's Basic Health Principles of Housing and the Residential Environment outlines and documents the goals medical personnel seek to achieve in planning, building and managing housing and residential environment. The principles are being used as a significant guide in federal development of performance standards for housing and its environment. APHA-U.S. Public Heal Service Recommended Housing Ordinance developed the most important portions of the Basic Health Principles as legally enforceable minimum standards for all housing.

The article offers information on the new performance-oriented survey process by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations to be tested in the U.S. The new survey process will be participated by 17 hospitals on its initial pilot testing that had agreed in evaluating mechanisms for collecting, analyzing, transmitting and using quality indicator data. The selected hospitals were from a large group of volunteers as they vary by ownership, size, teaching status, location and system affiliations. The list of the selected hospitals is also presented for further information.