The recommendations are broad and the indicators given are not necessarily comprehensive. Some of the examples are supported by an extensive empirical evidence base and may be more fully specified, whereas others have more limited research support and are less well developed. This process facilitated fuller consideration of each proposed indicator. When currently available information does not permit specificity, it may be used on a comparative basis. Indicators address various aspects of care and are frequently seen as applicable to structure, process, or outcomes.
Some indicators address process by looking at a series of actions, events, mechanisms or steps.
Outcome indicators, which look at the result of a function or process, make up the smallest number of the three types of existing indicators because they require the most sophisticated data collection. Yet, outcome indicators may provide the most direct assessment about whether quality care is actually being delivered. The task force agreed that a good evaluation program may include all three types, giving emphasis to outcome indicators, where possible. When research and experience are available, thresholds for particular indicators may be specified for acceptable performance. If research is insufficient to support such benchmarks, indicators may still be used to compare performance.