Musculoskeletal: Low Back Pain

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 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.

Change in rasch derived values of self-care function from admission to discharge among adult patients treated as short term rehabilitation patients in a skilled nursing facility who were discharged alive. The time frame for the measure is 12 months. The measure includes the following 8 items: Eating, Grooming, Dressing Upper Body, Dressing Lower Body, Toileting, Bowel, Expression, and Memory.