Which term describes the degree to which stated outcomes are achieved?

The term that best describes the degree to which stated outcomes are achieved is effectiveness. Effectiveness refers to how well a system or program meets its intended goals or objectives. In the context of healthcare information systems, this might involve measuring whether patient outcomes improve, whether processes lead to better patient care, or whether the implementation of a new system meets the desired performance targets.

When a system is evaluated for its effectiveness, the focus is on the actual results compared to the intended outcomes. For instance, if a health information management system was designed to reduce patient wait times and it achieves that goal, it can be said to be effective.

Efficiency, in contrast, involves how resources are utilized, focusing on the optimal use of time and materials in achieving those outcomes, rather than directly measuring the outcomes themselves. Productivity typically refers to the amount of output produced relative to input used, which is a measure of efficiency rather than effectiveness. Quality assurance pertains to the processes designed to maintain a desired level of quality in a service or product, ensuring that standards are met, but it does not directly measure the achievement of specific outcomes.