Which step in surveillance involves selecting outcome and process measures?

The selection of outcome and process measures is a critical step in surveillance that falls under the assessment of population. This stage involves identifying specific metrics that will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of infection prevention practices within the population being monitored. By establishing these measures, facilities can focus on the most relevant data that can provide insights into the quality of care, infection rates, and overall patient safety.

When assessing the population, it’s important to tailor these measures to the unique characteristics and vulnerabilities of the residents in a nursing home setting. This can include factors such as the types of infections that are most prevalent or the specific processes (like hand hygiene compliance) that need to be monitored closely. Having well-defined outcome and process measures allows for more effective tracking of health trends and intervention success, ultimately leading to improved infection control practices.

In contrast, the other options—data collection, risk stratification, and documentation of results—are integral components of the surveillance process, but they do not specifically focus on the crucial initial step of identifying the right measures to evaluate. Data collection pertains to gathering information based on previously established measures, risk stratification involves categorizing patients based on their susceptibility to infections, and documentation of results refers to recording the findings after outcomes have been analyzed.