The use of quality metrics in health care: primum non nocere and the law of unintended consequences

Quality Measures in Hernia Surgery

With growing pressures to formulate easily interpreted quality metrics, potential pitfalls exist that deleteriously affect the ultimate outcome of patients. This article defines what quality means in hernia surgery, how it is measured, who measures it, and how it is reported. Key governmental organizations responsible are highlighted. Although striving for high quality seems relatively straightforward, it is a challenge to account for all variables. Most definitions of quality are based on products and derived from minimum standards. This transition to basing it on health care delivery is ongoing, challenging, and incredibly important for the future of patients.