Managed care organizations are increasingly interested in learning to manage the outcome of care rather than just managing the cost of care. It is thought that through a database of outcomes experience, caregivers will know better which treatment modalities result in consistently better outcomes for patients. Outcomes management may lead to the development of clinical protocols. Outcomes Measurement System used to track clinical treatment and responses to that treatment. The methods for measuring outcomes are quite varied among providers.
Much disagreement exists regarding the best practice or tools to utilize to measure outcomes.
In fact, much disagreement exists in the medical field about the definition of outcome itself. A clinical outcome is the result of medical or surgical intervention or nonintervention. Managed services organizations are now attempting to better manage clinical outcomes for their enrollees to increase the satisfaction of patients and payors while holding down costs. Outcomes research Research on measures of changes in patient outcomes, that is, patient health status and satisfaction, resulting from specific medical and health interventions. Attributing changes in outcomes to medical care requires distinguishing the effects of care from the effects of the many other factors that influence patients' health and satisfaction.