Figure 1.

The patient-focused quality hierarchy (the “quality pyramid”). The individual boxes are examples within the key layers that form the pyramid and are not meant to encompass all possible items within a layer. What Matters Most–outcomes that improve patients' health related quality of life; Measures of Effectiveness–primary outcomes driven by lower complex programs and fundamental clinical areas of focus; Complex Programs-comprehensive and multi-faceted clinical programs driven by fundamental clinical areas of focus and closely linked to highest-order outcomes; The Fundamentals–basic clinical information focusing largely on biochemical and surrogate data. AVF, arteriovenous fistula; CVD, cardiovascular disease; CVC, central venous catheter; EOL, end of life; HRQOL, health related quality of life; MBD, mineral and bone disorder; Med, medical; mgmt, management; Pt., patient; PTH, parathyroid hormone; tx, treatment; URR, urea reduction ratio.