Potential users must seek out original sources or contact the measure developer to obtain details. The presence of measures in the database does not imply any recommendation about the practice of medicine. Informational messages on each report warn users against unwarranted assumptions concerning the measures contained in the database. The contents of these databases do not imply any recommendation concerning the practice of medicine. Decisions to use services and expectations concerning the health outcomes that are achievable must always be made by a responsible clinician in light of a patient's individual circumstances.
Clinical science advances frequently.
Before users measure clinical performance, the clinicians concerned should evaluate whether the measures proposed are still current and appropriate for their setting of care. The structure of the Condition Database provides a framework for considering characteristics of conditions that are important for performance measurement. Many fields in the Condition Database are currently incomplete because the information is not available at present. The categories of information incorporated in the Condition Database cover major areas of interest for individuals and groups doing performance measurement, e.g., prevalence, cost, use, complications, and services. Over time, we anticipate that continued outcomes research will provide the information needed to complete the database.