How do we know? We measure. How do patients know if their health care is good care? How do providers pinpoint the steps that need to be improved to benefit patients? And how do insurers and employers determine whether they are paying for the best care that science, skill, and compassion can provide? Performance measures give us a way to assess health care against recognized standards.

While measures come from many sources, those endorsed by National Quality Forum have become a common point of reference. An NQF endorsement reflects rigorous scientific and evidence-based review, input from patients and their families, and the perspectives of people throughout the healthcare industry.

The ABCs of Measurement explains how the science of measuring health care performance is making enormous progress, and continues to evolve. Measures represent a critical component in the national endeavor to assure that all patients receive appropriate and high quality care.