This compelling monograph combines-for the first time-the reports from two American Psychiatric Association task forces on quality in psychiatric care, offering a clinical framework for quality measurement that provides sample indicators of quality for health plans, facilities, and systems of care.

The past decade has witnessed remarkable growth in the field of quality measurement in health care. Today, medical professionals and patients alike want to know that health care is safe, effective, and accessible.

This compelling monograph combines--for the first time--the reports from two American Psychiatric Association task forces on quality in psychiatric care, offering a clinical framework for quality measurement that provides sample indicators of quality for health plans, facilities, and systems of care.

Using similar formats and definitions, each task force considered a matrix of priority areas of care, including specific patient populations (e.g., elderly, seriously and persistently mentally ill, developmentally disabled people) and diagnostic categories (e.g., depressive disorder, schizophrenia, substance use disorders). Each then examined important aspects of patient care and constructed a quality framework that included dimensions of access, quality (appropriateness of care), perception of care (satisfaction), outcome, and--for the children's report--prevention. Each task force also considered relevant methodological issues: cultural, linguistic, and ethnic differences; data collection and tracking; confidentiality of data; risk adjustment; use of rating scales and standardized instruments; and designation of standards.

As the initial step in what must be an evolving effort by clinicians to define, measure, report, and improve the care that patients and their families receive, this monograph is essential reading for those who provide and receive care, accredit and regulate care, and purchase and administer clinical services.