BENCHMARKING IN THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY

Benchmarking in the Healthcare Industry

Benchmarking in the Healthcare Industry

Introduction

Benchmarking is a performance improvement method that has been used for centuries. Recently, it has begun to be used in the healthcare industry where it has the potential to improve significantly the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and quality of healthcare services. Leading organizations outside the healthcare industry were of the indicators for more than ten years. In the past few years, health organizations have also begun to use benchmarking to achieve breakthrough improvements in their performances. Most of these organizations have carried out comparison studies independently, working one on one with external benchmarking partners. Recently, some organizations have chosen to compare the processes in conjunction with other health organizations (Huq, & Martin, 2006).

Rationale

Benchmarking is a performance improvement method that has been used for centuries. Recently, it has begun to be used in the healthcare industry where it has the potential to improve significantly the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and quality of healthcare services.

Discussion

This article discusses the use of collaborative benchmarking project conducted individual objects within the Catholic Health Corporation (CHC). It examines the reasons for the implementation of the joint efforts of the comparison and the advantages of such an effort to bring to organizations (Huber, 2007). Presentation of work in process - a case study on workers' compensation - provides an understanding of common benchmarks. This paper focuses on the early stages of the benchmarking process - selecting the project and collaborative benchmarking.

The real benefit to those organizations involved in the comparison comes an understanding of methods used criteria for partners, showing the chief of work in comparison partners and adapt these techniques to improve their own efficiency (Huq, & Martin, 2006). Most performance studies performed by organizations have been held independently of one another. Several factors suggest that health care organizations should consider the alternative of their own benchmarking efforts. Chief among these factors is the changing nature of competition in the health sector. Competition comes not only from other providers in narrow market niches. Outside organizations now offer services that are fighting for the attention of consumers and health care (Huber, 2007). Providers have responded to this contest to create an integrated delivery networks. Benchmarking addresses two needs that arise in the integrated delivery networks.

In the first place is necessary for consistent performance among the network members. Health care consumers bear uniform expectations for network providers. Network members are probably similar, but different, mechanisms for providing services (Grol, 2007). As a result, consumers may receive different levels of service. Identify best practices within the network and its implementation through the network will reduce the differences in processes and service levels.

Second, facing the need for an integrated delivery networks is that to implement breakthrough improvements proportions respond to the rising expectations of consumers to higher levels of productivity. Benchmarking can help identify best practices in organizations outside the network, which will lead to breakthrough improvements. Identify best practices in the joint model allows all participants to learn ...