The Ability of Databases and Guidelines to Drive Quality Improvement

The increased attention on excessive healthcare spending and the need to improve the efficiency and quality of healthcare in the USA has prompted medical specialties such as otolaryngology to take the lead in quality improvement initiatives. These projects aim to reduce variation in certain health practices, improve patient outcomes, and stimulate further strides toward better overall healthcare in our country. Some tools that are commonly employed toward this goal are clinical practice guidelines and national administrative databases. The two methods are very dissimilar in their makeup and creation, but both can serve a common and shared purpose. This review provides the reader with an understanding of how our specialty can utilize these tools to improve healthcare. © 2013, Springer Science+Business Media New York.