About >
Content Overview >
Classification Scheme
Classification Scheme
Overview
QualityTools, sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, uses controlled vocabulary concepts
to classify various tool attributes represented by the QualityTools
Summary.
This standard "classification scheme" is designed to facilitate searching and
retrieving information from the QualityTools Web site. In addition,
the classification scheme attempts to standardize key tool
attributes to facilitate review of the tool. The overall approach to classification
includes vocabulary concepts developed especially for QualityTools.
QualityTools classifies the following attributes:
New vocabulary concepts are added to the classification scheme
as needed. Refer to the Glossary for definitions of select terms.
The following concepts are used to identify the user group(s) for whom the tool is intended:
- Patients/Consumers
- Payers/Purchasers
- Policymakers
- Providers
Return to Top
The following concepts are used to classify the IOM Care Need categories
that apply to the tool:
- End of Life Care
- Getting Better
- Living with Illness
- Staying Healthy
- Not within an IOM Care Need
Return to Top
The following concepts are used to classify the IOM Domain categories that
apply to the tool:
- Effectiveness
- Efficiency
- Equity
- Patient-centeredness
- Safety
- Timeliness
- Not within an IOM Domain
Return to Top
The following concepts are used to classify the IOM Priority Areas that
apply to the tool:
- Asthma - appropriate treatment for persons with mild/moderate persistent asthma
- Cancer screening that is evidence-based - focus on colorectal and cervical cancer
- Care coordination (cross-cutting)
- Children with special health care needs
- Diabetes - focus on appropriate management of early disease
- End of life with advanced organ system failure - focus on congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Frailty associated with old age - preventing falls and pressure ulcers, maximizing function, developing advanced care plans
- Hypertension - focus on appropriate management of early disease
- Immunization - children and adults
- Ischemic heart disease - prevention, reduction of recurring events, optimization of functional capacity
- Major depression - screening and treatment
- Medication management - preventing medication errors and overuse of anitibiotics
- Nosocomial infections - prevention and surveillance
- Obesity (emerging area)
- Pain control in advanced cancer
- Pregnancy and childbirth - appropriate prenatal and intrapartum care
- Self-management/health literacy (cross-cutting)
- Severe and persistent mental illness - focus on treatment in public sector
- Stroke - early intervention and rehabilitation
- Tobacco dependence treatment in adults
Return to Top
The following concepts are used to classify the major health care focus of the tool:
- Assessment of Therapeutic Effectiveness
- Counseling
- Diagnosis
- Education
- Evaluation
- Management
- Prevention
- Rehabilitation
- Risk Assessment
- Screening
- Technology Assessment
- Treatment
Return to Top
The following concepts are used to classify the format of the tool:
- Action Plans/Goals
- Algorithm/Flowchart
- Brochure/Poster
- Calculator
- Campaigns/Initiatives/Programs
- Database
- Fact sheet
- Patient Diary
- PDA/Palm Application
- Questionnaire/Survey
- Report
- Report Card
- Slide Presentation/Video/DVD
- Toolkit
- Wallet Card
- Web site
- Workbook/Manual/Guide
Return to Top
The following concepts are used to classify vulnerable populations:
- Children
- Disabled
- Frail Elderly
- Homeless
- Illiterate/Low-literate Populations
- Immigrants
- Medically Uninsured
- Mentally Ill
- Minority Groups
- Non-English Speaking Populations
- Poverty Populations
- Prisoners
- Rural Populations
- Terminally Ill
- Transients/Migrants
- Urban Populations
- Women
Return to Top
Questions regarding QualityTools Classification Scheme are welcome.
Send e-mail to info@qualitytools.ahrq.gov.
