Admissions for any-listed diagnosis of perforations or abscesses of the appendix per 1,000 admissions with any-listed appendicitis, ages 18 years and older. Excludes obstetric admissions and transfers from other institutions.

[NOTE: The software provides the rate per hospital admission. However, common practice reports the measure as per 1,000 admissions. The user must multiply the rate obtained from the software by 1,000 to report cases per 1,000 admissions.]

Admissions for a principal diagnosis of diabetes with short-term complications (ketoacidosis, hyperosmolarity, or coma) per 100,000 population, ages 18 years and older. Excludes obstetric admissions and transfers from other institutions.

[NOTE: The software provides the rate per population. However, common practice reports the measure as per 100,000 population. The user must multiply the rate obtained from the software by 100,000 to report admissions per 100,000 population.]

Percentage of physician mechanisms used to evaluate patient experience based on evidence of the following. •An ongoing system for obtaining feedback about patient experience with care •A process for analyzing the data and a plan for improving patient experience. Note: This standard is assessed as a process that applies to all patients. Evaluation is not based on documentation in individual medical records.

Percentage of post-surgical outcomes examined by a physician's system that includes the following. •Tracking specific complications of back surgery; •Periodic analysis of surgical complications data and a plan for improving outcomes. Note: This standard is assessed as a process that applies to all patients. Evaluation is not based on documentation in individual medical records. This standard is applicable only for physicians who perform surgery.

Percentage of patients provided with educational materials that review the natural history of the disease and treatment options, including alternatives to surgery, the risks and benefits and the evidence.
Note: This standard is assessed as a process that applies to all patients. Evaluation is not based on documentation in individual medical records.

Percentage of patients at least 18 years of age and younger than 80 with back pain with whom a physician or other clinician reviewed the range of treatment options, including alternatives to surgery prior to surgery. To demonstrate shared decision making, there must be documentation in the patient record of a discussion between the physician and the patient that includes all of the following.
1) Treatment choices, including alternatives to surgery;
2) Risks and benefits;
3) Evidence of effectiveness

Percentage of patients at least 18 years of age and younger than 80 with back pain with documentation that the physician conducted reassessment of both of the following within four to six weeks of their initial back pain visit or of a surgical procedure date:
1) Pain AND
2) Functional status

Percentage of patients at least 18 years of age and younger than 80 with a back pain episode of 28 days or more without documentation of red flags who had surgery within the first six weeks of back pain onset (overuse measure, lower performance is better).

Note: This measure is applicable only for physicians who perform surgery.

Percentage of patients at least 18 years of age and younger than 80 with back pain who have received an epidural steroid injection in the absence of radicular pain AND those patients with radicular pain who received an epidural steroid injection without image guidance (i.e. overuse measure, lower performance is better).

Percentage of patients at least 18 years of age and younger than 80 with back pain lasting more than 12 weeks, with documentation of physician advice for supervised exercise.