The History of Quality Metrics

In a humorous, satirical editorial, Dr. Joseph Alpert depicts Socrates conversing with Asculepo, a young medical student, regarding the elements of high-quality medicine. In their discussion, Asculepo states that he is confused about the elements of high-quality medicine that his professors called quality “metrics.” Socrates responds that it is “quite strange” that they want to teach you to practice high-quality medicine, but they evidently cannot agree on how to measure this thing called “quality.” During the past two decades, quality measures have evolved to play a crucial role in healthcare delivery; but in many ways, we are still not clear about what they should consist of.