Which item is not typically used as a quality measure in managed care?

• A. Hospital bed turnover rate.
• B. HbA1c control in diabetes.
• C. Colorectal cancer screening.
• D. Appropriate imaging for low-back pain.

Answer: (A)

Quality measures in managed care focus on how well care aligns with evidence-based practices and how well patient outcomes are achieved, rather than on hospital operations. HbA1c control in diabetes is a direct indicator of diabetes management effectiveness, making it a standard quality measure. Colorectal cancer screening reflects preventive care delivery and adherence to guidelines, another common quality metric. Appropriate imaging for low-back pain evaluates whether imaging is used properly, reducing unnecessary tests and potential harm—also a key quality standard.

Hospital bed turnover rate, however, is about how quickly beds are occupied and released, an operational efficiency metric that reflects throughput and resource use rather than the quality of clinical care or patient outcomes. It influences performance and costs but does not directly measure care quality, so it is not typically used as a quality measure in managed care.