The National Prevalence Measurement of Quality of Care (LPZ) is an appropriate instrument for measuring the quality of care. All healthcare institutions, both intramural and extramural, can register for participation in the LPZ.
The LPZ is an annual, independent measurement of the quality of care in the healthcare sector. Care indicators that can be measured with the LPZ are: pressure ulcer, incontinence, malnutrition, falls, restraints, and pain. The LPZ measures the prevalence of these care indicators, as well as their treatment and prevention.
Since 1998, the prevalence of pressure ulcers has been measured annually in a large number of institutions. Since 2004 the measurement was extended to other care problems as malnutrition and falls.
In 2016 the measurement is renewed, based on the needs of health care institutions. In this renewed LPZ the following care problems are measured: pressure ulcers, incontinence, malnutrition, falls, restraints and pain. In a relatively simple and quick manner, the measurement supplies participating institutions with insight into the quality of care provided in their institution. Insight into the extent of care problems can prompt institutions and policymakers to take necessary measures such as preventative screening for the care problems, prevention and reduction. Insight into prevention and treatment means that specific measures can be taken to improve the care required to tackle these problems. Moreover, the large scale and scope of the measurement enables the participating institutions to compare themselves with similar institutions and departments and the data can be used as a benchmarking instrument.
