Quality indicators are

• A. Measurable elements of quality that specify the focus of evaluation and documentation
• B. Standards for hardware procurement
• C. Tools for billing audits
• D. Surrogate markers for patient satisfaction

Answer: (A)

Quality indicators are measurable elements of quality that specify what we are evaluating and how we will document it. They turn expectations for safe, effective, patient-centered care into concrete data points, guiding data collection, reporting, and improvement efforts. For example, tracking the percentage of patients with timely pain assessments or the rate of vitals documentation within a specified period are concrete indicators you can measure, monitor over time, and use to drive changes. In nursing informatics, these indicators rely on data captured in the EHR and other systems to provide objective evidence for quality improvement cycles. They are not standards for hardware procurement, nor tools used for billing audits, and while patient experience matters, quality indicators aim at direct process or outcome measures rather than surrogate markers for satisfaction.