Lessons learned from performance feedback by a quality improvement organization.

Performance feedback is a common quality improvement (QI) intervention strategy in the outpatient setting. This article describes the use by one quality improvement organization (QIO) of performance feedback to primary-care physicians with claims-based measures relating to diabetes, adult vaccinations, and mammography screening. Feedback from the physicians identified themes relating to data accuracy, methodology of the feedback reports, reasons for low performance rates, and suggestions on how the QIO could improve its intervention strategy. The article highlights the value of collecting and analyzing formative data on the process and offers specific recommendations to other QI professionals contemplating the use of claims data for performance feedback.