Incorporating Patient-Reported Outcomes
Into Health Care To Engage Patients And
Enhance Care
Danielle Lavallee, PharmD, PhD
Department of Surgery
University of Washington Medical Center
Educational Objectives
At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:
1.Discuss efforts promoting the implementation of patientreported outcomes (PROs) in health care
2.Describe ways in which PRO data support patient
engagement in health care
3.Discuss strategies to capture PROs in routine clinical care
4.Understand challenges and future opportunities for PRO
implementation in health care
Patient-Reported Outcomes
Term
Definition
Functional status
An individual's effective performance of or ability to perform those
roles, tasks, or activities that are valued (e.g. going to work, playing
sports, or maintaining the house).
Health-related quality of life
(HRQOL)
Personal health status. HRQOL usually refers to aspects of our lives
that are dominated or significantly influenced by our mental or
physical well-being.
Quality of life (QOL)
An evaluation of all aspects of our lives, including, for example,
where we live, how we live, and how we play. It encompasses such
life factors as family circumstances, finances, housing and job
satisfaction. (See also health-related quality of life).
Well-being
Subjective bodily and emotional states; how an individual feels; a
state of mind distinct from functioning that pertains to behaviors
and activities.
Higgins JPT, Green S. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews. The
Cochrane Collaboration. Version 5.1.0. March 2011. Available at:
http://www.cochrane-handbook.org/
Patient-Reported Outcomes Do Not Include…
 Clinician Reported Outcomes (ClinROs)
 Observed reports from the physician (e.g. cure of
infection, dermatologic changes)
 Reports requiring clinician interpretation (e.g. lab
results, radiologic reports)
 Observer Reported Outcomes (ObsROs)
 Assessment made by someone (i.e. teacher or
caregiver) who does not have professional training
related to the measure
 May be used when the individual is unable to selfreport (children, dementia)
Why the focus?
eHealth – Evolving ways to engage patients
How do we meaningfully capture &
integrate this information into workflow
and decision-making?
PROs Facilitate Engagement
• Assess the severity of symptoms
• Track the impact of treatments
• Help patients and providers set priorities for
office visit discussions
• Inform treatment decisions
• Monitor health and well-being
• Connect providers to patient-generated health
data
Challenges to Spread and Scalability
•
•
•
•
Workflow
Measurement
Technology
Design
Future Focus
• Partnership with patients
• Address workflow issues
 Automated PRO capture & reporting
 Computer adaptive testing
• Research
 Translating PROs to actionable data
 Patient-generated health data
Thank You!
THIS PROJECT WAS SUPPORTED BY A GRANT FROM THE AGENCY FOR
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH AND QUALITY (AHRQ) TO ACADEMYHEALTH
(GRANT NO. U18HS022789).THE CONTENT IS SOLELY THE RESPONSIBILITY
OF THE AUTHORS AND DOES NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE OFFICIAL
VIEWS OF THE AGENCY FOR HEALTHCARE RESEARCH AND QUALITY.