Background: Outcome Committee activities are organized to assist CR/PR programs to measure and interpret outcomes related to patient care and outpatient program functions.

Objective: In an effort to connect with outcome chairmen and learn which outcomes concern affiliate programs 2 descriptive surveys were conducted.

Method: National Outcome Committee members formed a subcommittee to develop a 2-part descriptive survey. The aim of the first survey, accomplished through e-mail in 2006, was to discover which affiliates had outcome committees and obtain contact information including basic information about the committees. A follow-up survey conducted in 2007, investigated the most commonly measured core components of care and methods of data collection perceived to be used in outpatient programs.

Results: Thirty-three of 44 committee contacts (75%) responded to the first survey. Of these, 20 (61%) had an active outcome committee. Years of outcome committee existence ranged from 1 to 15 years. Thirty-one affiliates (71%) responded to the second survey. Smoking Cessation (91%) and Exercise Habits (84%) were the most frequently measured behavioral outcomes. Quality of Life (94%) was the preferred health outcome measurement, with morbidity reported to be less often at 9%. For clinical outcomes, weight was measured by 81% and hip-to-waist ratio was 9%. Although the majority of affiliates estimate data collected at program entry (97%) and exit (100%), fewer collect at mid-point (22%). Fifty-nine percent collect outcome data at 6 months postdischarge and 50% at 12 months. State benchmarking was acknowledged by 52% of the respondents. Program outcomes are used for cert/recertification (94%), Quality Improvement (81%), JCAHO (50%), and other (34%). Patient satisfaction measurement was estimated 97% of the time and financial/economic at 19%. All but 11% of the respondents had certified programs.

Conclusions: Over the last 2 decades, considerable achievements have been accomplished regarding outcome measurement. However, it is evident that efforts are still needed to assist those affiliates without outcome committees. Half the respondents report state-wide benchmarking activities, and it was evident from comments that more are interested in benchmarking if they could find a system to do so.