Evaluating the Influence of Performance Measurement Systems on Quality of Care in Chinese Public Hospitals

Abstract

Quality of care in hospitals is shaped not only by clinical expertise, but also by the systems used to monitor performance, measure compliance, and drive service accountability. In China’s public hospitals, performance measurement frameworks—ranging from patient safety indicators to response-time benchmarks and documentation audits—have become central to healthcare governance. This study investigates how such measurement systems influence the quality of care delivered in large-scale public institutions. A sample of 458 healthcare professionals from four Chinese provinces was analysed through structured surveys, descriptive statistics, correlation mapping and regression modelling. Results reveal that performance metrics significantly improve treatment standardisation, handover accuracy, and patient safety outcomes when used supportively and complemented with digital tracking tools. However, excessive emphasis on quantitative evaluation can lead to documentation burden, task overload and reduced patient interaction time. Findings emphasise that performance systems must balance quantitative scoring with qualitative care values to achieve real clinical excellence. Quality of care improves not only when it is measured, but when systems allow measurement to guide improvement rather than overshadow compassion.