Benchmark Underperformance Dashboard Metrics Example
Benchmark Underperformance Dashboard Metrics Example
Benchmark Underperformance Dashboard Metrics Example
Benchmark Underperformance
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Benchmark Underperformance
Healthcare dashboards are crucial in determining the organization’s performance and indicators of quality. Dashboards and reports on performance provide critical information on how well the organization is performing on different fronts Benchmark Underperformance Dashboard Metrics Example. A digital dashboard such as Mercy Medical Center is sharable and can be used in outlining gaps in performance and implementing the necessary interventions to improve health care organization performance and quality of care.
Understanding benchmark underperformance as highlighted in local, state, and federal government policies and benchmarks will ensure effective quality improvement and improved outcomes in care Benchmark Underperformance Dashboard Metrics Example. This paper is an evaluation of Mercy Medical Center (Shakopee, MN) dashboard to outline areas of underperformance and suggest ethical action towards meeting set benchmarks.
Evaluation of Dashboard Metrics
After evaluation of the dashboard, several aspects have been noted with the patient records and trends in the organization. Two major areas of concern can be seen in this data; low HgbA1c tests and foot exam rates Benchmark Underperformance Dashboard Metrics Example. The highest number of foot exam rates indicated in the dashboard was 73 in 2019 Q1 and this declined to only 3 in Q4 of the same year (Vila Health, n.d.). HgbA1c test rates have also declined notably from 123 in 2019 Q1 to only 6 in Q4 (Vila Health, n.d.).
These tests are important in monitoring glycemic control as well as diabetes complications and hence the decline in testing rates presents a major health concern Benchmark Underperformance Dashboard Metrics Example. The tests are considered crucial in preventing diabetes complications and hence decline in the rates of tests shows poor outcomes.
When comparing these two areas of assessment with the state and national benchmarks, it is evident that they fail to meet the benchmark for both state and national outcomes. The numbers provided in the dashboard have not indicated percentages hence a major assumption made here is that the highest number is the total of diabetes patients. Assuming that the total number of patients is 123, only 6 (48.7%) received the HgbA1c tests in Q4 2019 compared to the national benchmark of 79.5%.
The state benchmark for Minnesota is 78.0% hence HgbA1c tests fall below both benchmarks (AHRQ, 2020). Similarly, in foot examinations, only 3 (24.4%) were examined in 2019 Q4 which falls below the national benchmark of 84.0% and Minnesota benchmark of 84.1% (AHRQ, 2020). Benchmark Underperformance Dashboard Metrics Example Therefore, when compared with the state and national rates, testing for diabetes-related complications at Mercy Medical fails to meet the required benchmarks.
The benchmarks against which this performance is compared are based on the National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The agency derives the measures from top-performing states to compare achievable benchmarks with the performance of the rest of the country (AHRQ, 2020). These comparisons are used as part of the AHRQ agenda for continuous improvement and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) incentives to states and hospital organizations.
The data on Mercy Medical Center’s Dashboard also presents several areas of uncertainty where more information would help. For example, data on new diabetes patients is incomplete since the dashboard does not indicate the total new numbers in previous quarters. Similarly, the numbers of practitioners and facilities reported do not have comparators hence one cannot accurately tell whether the resources are adequate for the practice. More information on acuity and utilization level for the staff and facilities respectively would help in assessing the adequacy of resources in the organization. Benchmark Underperformance Dashboard Metrics Example
Challenge in Achieving Acceptable Performance
Several challenges may be experienced in achieving acceptable performance and for Mercy Medical Center, resources may be one of the biggest challenges Benchmark Underperformance Dashboard Metrics Example. The identified performance gaps include decline in testing and examination rates for patients with diabetes. Improvement in these performance areas would require more education and outreach to patients with diabetes.
Resources required for such an intervention include community education and facilitation resources as well as training finances required for the training processes. Benchmark Underperformance Dashboard Metrics Example
The high demands for resources and finances would thus present a challenge for the organization in improving current performance. Lack of resources means that the medical center does not provide enough education to the community and hence fewer people get tested and examined for diabetes complications Benchmark Underperformance Dashboard Metrics Example. The assumption made in this analysis is that the organization does not have a current diabetes education program in Shakopee, MN.
Specific Target for Improvement
The dashboard presents many areas of improvement which medical center can focus its efforts to produce better results and achieve the best overall improvement in quality outcomes. Areas of improvement can be chosen based on severity of the issue, number of affected patients, financial impact, and stakeholders involved in the process Benchmark Underperformance Dashboard Metrics Example. A crucial area of improvement is the testing and evaluation of diabetes and diabetes-related conditions.
According to the American Diabetes Association (2017), early detection of diabetes complications can aid in reducing the progress of the condition and hence significantly improving the quality of life for the patients Benchmark Underperformance Dashboard Metrics Example. Eye examination, foot evaluation, and HgbA1c tests are crucial areas of improvement since they enhance the quality of care for patients with diabetes and hence produce better health outcomes.
Another area of improvement that can be outlined in the medical center is the staffing levels. Although the dashboard does not clearly indicate gaps in staffing rates at Mercy Medical Center, staffing is one of the crucial areas of improvement that healthcare organizations in general should consider. This is because staffing levels and burnout rates are correlated with the quality of care and patient satisfaction (Gillet et al., 2018).
Staffing levels also affects a huge number of stakeholders starting with the patients, staff, and even the management. It is thus justifiable that the organization should focus on improving staffing levels hence enhancing care quality and outcomes Benchmark Underperformance Dashboard Metrics Example. The proposed improvement should thus focus on proactive diabetes care as well as staffing levels to improve care quality and reduce underperformance gap. Benchmark Underperformance: Dashboard Metrics Example
Suggested Actions for Performance Improvement
Based on the evaluation, it becomes evident that ethical action should be implemented to enhance the quality of care in Mercy Medical Center. The proposed ethical action is two-pronged. The first approach is to carry out patient education on diabetes care for reducing complications. This education program will target the community in general and also focus on diabetic patients specifically.
Community-targeted diabetes education reduces diabetes complications and adherence to treatment plan (Kwan et al., 2020). The education project could include community-based programs and in-clinic education approaches. The action is considered ethical because it increases patients’ health knowledge and will increase self-care and continuity in diabetes management. Benchmark Underperformance Dashboard Metrics Example
The second aspect of care improvement is assessing staffing needs and improving current staffing levels to support quality improvement. Staffing needs can be assessed through an overview of nurse acuity and provider: patient ratios in the organization. The staffing needs assessment will then be followed by a recruitment and training program to equip the organization with the relevant staff resources required to deliver high quality care.
The impact of this project will be positive quality-wise and will also benefit staff and patients. Better staffing levels will reduce burnout and increase job satisfaction while providing the relevant expertise and workforce for quality care and improvement Benchmark Underperformance Dashboard Metrics Example. Therefore, combining staffing improvements with diabetes education will significantly improve the quality of care and performance at Mercy Medical Center.