This is an elective for students in graduate research programs who wish to gain a better understanding of performance measurement in health care and the methods available to develop performance measurement systems and specific indicators of performance. The course will provide an overview of different models for performance measurement, indicator development strategies and a discussion of issues specific to several stakeholder groups. Students working in other public sectors, such as education, may also find the course useful.

Objectives: To understand performance measurement frameworks and models that are currently available across the health care system (what to measure and why). To describe several different methods for identifying, selecting and validating specific types of performance measures (how to measure — soundness, relevance).

To become familiar with emerging issues in the calculation, reporting, and uptake of individual components of performance measurement frameworks by varying stakeholder groups (appropriateness, feasibility, and relevance of measures and frameworks).