The Gerontologist
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Schnelle, J. F.
Right arrow Articles by Simmons, S. F.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Schnelle, J. F.
Right arrow Articles by Simmons, S. F.
The Gerontologist 45:576-582 (2005)
© 2005 The Gerontological Society of America

Improving the Quality of Nursing Home Care and Medical-Record Accuracy With Direct Observational Technologies

John F. Schnelle, PhD1,2, Dan Osterweil, MD2 and Sandra F. Simmons, PhD2

Correspondence: Address correspondence to John F. Schnelle, PhD, University of California–Los Angeles, Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, 7150 Tampa Avenue, Reseda, CA 91335. E-mail: jschnell{at}ucla.edu

Nursing home medical-record documentation of daily-care occurrence may be inaccurate, and information is not documented about important quality-of-life domains. The inadequacy of medical record data creates a barrier to improving care quality, because it supports an illusion of care consistent with regulations, which reduces the motivation and ability of providers to identify areas for improvement. Observational protocols designed for use by survey and quality-assurance staff can provide the independent information necessary for improving both medical record accuracy and residents' quality of life. Unfortunately, observational protocols currently used in survey and quality-assurance activities are not designed in a manner that is consistent with the scientific principles that guide observational measurement. The purpose of this article is to describe the steps to develop a standardized and scientifically defensible observational system to assess nursing home care quality.

Key Words: Observations • Nursing home quality assessment • Nursing home survey




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 GerontologistHome page
C. D. Phillips, M. Chen, and M. Sherman
To What Degree Does Provider Performance Affect a Quality Indicator? The Case of Nursing Homes and ADL Change
Gerontologist, June 1, 2008; 48(3): 330 - 337.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Journal of Health Politics, Policy and LawHome page
E. A. Miller and V. Mor
Balancing Regulatory Controls and Incentives: Toward Smarter and More Transparent Oversight in Long-Term Care
Journal of Health Politics Policy and Law, January 1, 2008; 33(2): 249 - 279.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 GerontologistHome page
L. Levy-Storms, J. F. Schnelle, and S. F. Simmons
What Do Family Members Notice Following an Intervention to Improve Mobility and Incontinence Care for Nursing Home Residents? An Analysis of Open-Ended Comments
Gerontologist, February 1, 2007; 47(1): 14 - 20.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 GerontologistHome page
R. H. Lee, B. J. Gajewski, and S. Thompson
Reliability of the Nursing Home Survey Process: A Simultaneous Survey Approach
Gerontologist, December 1, 2006; 46(6): 772 - 779.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
All GSA journals Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Copyright © 2005 by The Gerontological Society of America.