AVÐÇÇò

What is an Indicator?

Health indicators are summary measures designed to provide comparable and actionable information about priority topics related to population health or health system performance. 

Health system performance indicators are a type of health indicator, and health indicators are a type of metric.

What’s the difference between metrics, indicators and performance indicator?

Health system performance indicators are a type of health indicator, and health indicators are a type of metric. The table below describes these health measures and provides examples for each to help illustrate the difference.

Measure type Description Examples
Metric

Information that is quantifiable and reported as a number

Has value and many uses but cannot be compared

  • Total health expenditures
  • Inpatient hospitalizations for medical assistance in dying
  • Number of emergency department visits due to opioid poisoning
Health indicator

Gives context to metrics, usually using a ratio (e.g., per X)

Designed to ensure comparability (e.g., by being risk-adjusted or standardized)

Directionality may or may not exist

  • Cost of a Standard Hospital Stay
  • Injury Hospitalization 
  • Proportion of Physicians in Rural Areas
Health system performance indicator A health indicator that has a desired direction (e.g., lower rates are desirable)
  • Surgical Patients Readmitted to Hospital
  • Restraint Use in Long-Term Care
  • Hospitalizations Entirely Caused by Alcohol

Learn more about health indicators

Getting to Know Health Indicators

An overview of health indicators and how stakeholders use these valuable tools to get high-level, comparative information on key issues.

Watch the video

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