What does the JCAHO definition of performance measurement encompass?

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) defines performance measurement as a comprehensive approach that includes a set of interrelated process and outcome measures. This definition emphasizes the importance of understanding both the processes that lead to care delivery and the outcomes that result from those processes.

Process measures evaluate the methods used in delivering care (such as compliance with clinical guidelines), while outcome measures assess the results of care (such as patient health improvements). Together, they provide a more complete picture of quality in health care, enabling institutions to identify areas for improvement, assess the effectiveness of interventions, and ensure that they are meeting the healthcare standards that ultimately benefit patients.

In contrast, focusing solely on outcome measures, as suggested in one of the options, would ignore the underlying processes that can affect those outcomes. Single-point assessments and random checks may provide snapshots of performance, but they lack the continuous and comprehensive perspective necessary for meaningful quality improvement, which the JCAHO aims to promote through its performance measurement framework.