Providers and payers alike wish to find a method of managing care in a way that would produce the best outcomes. Managed care organizations are increasingly interested in learning to manage the outcome of care rather than just managing the cost of care. It is thought that through a database of outcomes experience, caregivers will know better which treatment modalities result in consistently better outcomes for patients. Outcomes management may lead to the development of clinical protocols.

A clinical outcome that is the result of medical or surgical intervention or nonintervention according to a protocol. It is purported that management according to evidence-based protocols improves the clinical outcomes of members, increases patient and payer satisfaction, and improves cost controls. It is thought that by following a database of outcomes experience, caregivers will see which treatment modalities result in consistently improved outcomes for patients. Outcomes management will, as a natural consequence, lead to additional medical protocols.

Systematic efforts to improve the results of health care services, using established outcome measures.

Collection and analysis of medical performances based on certain specifications.