Properly leveraged PRO data can enhance individual care and drive system-wide improvements
Continuous information from patients about their health status and treatment experiences creates a feedback loop for providers to continuously refine and enhance care delivery on an individual level
By systematically tracking patient-reported outcomes, healthcare administration can assess the impact of treatments on patients' quality of life and overall health, driving continuous quality improvement initiatives system-wide
Easing the regulatory compliance submission process ensures participation and elevates medical specialties nation-wide
A patient-reported outcome is any health status information reported directly by the patient without interpretation by a clinician. For example, a patient may rate their pain level, describe changes in daily function, or report improvements in mobility after joint replacement surgery. A real world example is KOOS Jr., used for TKA patients.
The purpose of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) is to capture the patient’s perspective on their symptoms, function, and quality of life, insights that traditional clinical data often miss. PROs support shared decision-making, improve care quality, and serve as a foundation for value-based care and outcomes measurement.
Objective clinical data comes from tests and clinician assessments, such as imaging, lab results, or physical exams. PROs, by contrast, are reported directly by patients and reflect how they feel and function in everyday life. Together, these data sources provide a more complete picture of treatment effectiveness.
PRO collection intervals vary by condition and procedure, but commonly include a baseline assessment before treatment and follow-up assessments after care, often at 3, 6, and 12 months. Longitudinal collection is key to understanding outcomes over time.
In some programs, yes. CMS requires patient-reported outcome data collection for specific quality measures, including the Total Hip Arthroplasty and Total Knee Arthroplasty Patient-Reported Outcome Performance Measure (THA/TKA PRO-PM) under the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting Program. Hospitals that do not meet these reporting requirements may face payment reductions or miss performance-based incentives. Private payers increasingly align with these same outcome-based expectations.
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