Benchmark Underperformance Dashboard Metrics Example

Benchmark Underperformance Dashboard Metrics Example

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