The physician value index: a tool for effective physician integration.

The physician value index is a metric that can help hospital leaders understand the various levels of physician performance along the care continuum in terms of cost and quality. The metric illustrates physician performance in the context of an overall quality of care composite that incorporates patient satisfaction, care outcomes, patient safety, and hospital financial performance. Hospitals can use the metric to identify and leverage the practices of top-performing physicians to improve overall system financial performance and patient quality of care.