The percent of antibiotics administered immediately prior to open reduction and internal fixation surgeries is an example of what type of performance measure?

The percent of antibiotics administered immediately prior to open reduction and internal fixation surgeries is classified as a process measure because it focuses on how care is delivered. Process measures evaluate the methods or activities performed during patient care that lead to a desired outcome. In this context, the timely administration of antibiotics is a critical step in preventing postoperative infections, ensuring that the healthcare system adheres to established protocols and guidelines aimed at improving patient safety and quality of care.

Identifying performance based on whether antibiotics are given preoperatively highlights the adherence to recommended practices and allows providers to assess the effectiveness of their processes in delivering care. Successful execution of this process contributes to better surgical outcomes but does not directly measure the results of the intervention (such as infection rates or recovery times), which would fall under outcome measures instead. Therefore, emphasizing the actual actions and procedures within the surgical care context makes this an illustrative example of a process measure.