Prevention Quality Indicators (PQIs)

The prevention indicator reports presented on this Web site were created using Prevention Quality Indicator (PQI) software developed by the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the Department for Health and Human Services (DHHS). PQIs are a set of measures that can be used to identify "ambulatory care sensitive conditions," which are conditions for which good outpatient care can potentially prevent the need for hospitalization, complications or more severe disease.

The following reporting format is used to easily identify areas performing above average, below average, or average for any given indicator.

GREEN: If an area’s risk-adjusted rate (considering a margin of error) is lower than the national average for an indicator, the area is displayed in green.

YELLOW:  If an area’s risk-adjusted rate (considering a margin of error) is comparable to the national average for an indicator, the area is displayed in yellow.

RED: If an area’s risk-adjusted rate (considering a margin of error) is higher than the national average for an indicator, the area is displayed in red.

NOTE:  For Prevention Quality Indicators lower rates usually represent better outpatient care which can potentially prevent the need for hospitalization.  

                                                                                               
To begin reviewing the prevention indicator reports, click on the link below.

Prevention Quality Indicator Maps [PDF 632kb]

PQIs consist of the following 14 ambulatory care sensitive conditions, which are measured as rates of admission to the hospital:

PQIs presented as a percentage rate of population over age 18 are:

• Diabetes short-term complication admission rate (PQI 1) - Map [PDF 32kb]
• Diabetes long-term complications admission rate (PQI 3) - Map [PDF 32kb]
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease admission rate (PQI 5) - Map [PDF 32kb]
• Hypertension admission rate (PQI 7) - Map [PDF 32kb]
• Congestive heart failure admission rate (PQI 8) - Map [PDF 32kb]
• Dehydration Admission rate (PQI 10) - Map [PDF 32kb]
• Bacterial pneumonia admission rate (PQI 11) - Map [PDF 32kb]
• Urinary tract infection admission rate (PQI 12) - Map [PDF 32kb]
• Angina admission without procedure (PQI 13) - Map [PDF 32kb]
• Uncontrolled diabetes admission rate (PQI 14) - Map [PDF 32kb]
• Adult asthma admission rate (PQI 15) - Map [PDF 32kb]
• Rate of lower-extremity amputation among patients with diabetes (PQI 16)- Map [PDF 32kb]

PQIs presented as a percentage rate of total admissions for the specified condition are:

• Perforated appendix admission rate (PQI 2) - Map [PDF 32kb]
• Low Birth Weight (PQI 9) - Map [PDF 32kb]

Composite PQIs

• Overall - Includes all PQIs except PQI 2 and PQI 9 - Map [PDF 32kb]
• Acute – Includes PQIs 10, 11, and 12 - Map [PDF 32kb]
• Chronic – Includes PQIs 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 15, and 16 - Map [PDF 32kb]

This site allows comparison of prevention quality using only these indicators and reflects the time period specified. It may not accurately reflect the current prevention quality for a specific procedure or condition. Please discuss these factors with your health care provider when making important health care decisions.

The data used to develop the PQI reports are standardized administrative information routinely submitted by Kentucky hospitals to bill for their services. This administrative data includes many elements such as procedure codes, diagnosis codes, facility charges and patient demographic information. To fairly report on the prevention quality indicators, the data are “risk-adjusted” to account for the difference in patient severity levels in each geographic location. Risk-adjusting the data is one way we attempt to level the playing field when comparing prevention quality indicators.

AHRQ PQI Data [xls 631kb]

AHRQ PQI Data [PDF 173kb]