FPX 6004 Dashboard Metrics Evaluation Essay

FPX 6004 Dashboard Metrics Evaluation Essay

FPX 6004 Dashboard Metrics Evaluation Essay

Dashboard Metric Evaluations
Healthcare reform aims to improve the efficiency with which medical services are delivered. These alterations must adhere to federal and state regulations. To raise the quality of service and increase productivity, it is crucial to understand the benchmark set by these guidelines. The healthcare industry is increasingly adopting benchmarks as a management technique to establish best practices at the lowest possible cost. Care quality can be accurately reflected in performance indicators with proper benchmarking. There are two types of quality indicators: those that focus on the process and those that evaluate the outcome of the process.

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Outcome measures determine treatment efficacy, while process measures assess the quality of care provided (Quentin et al., 2019). The right diagnostic procedures and treatment plans are only effective if measured as part of the healthcare process. One example of an outcome measure is assessing whether or not an individual’s condition improves due to medical care. Healthcare providers and patients value outcome measures highly, making them the accepted standard by which hospitals are evaluated (Pantaleon, 2019). Mercy Medical Health is part of Villa Health, and their dashboard and healthcare benchmark review have been examined for their ability to enhance treatment and quality of services provided at the organization.
Dashboard Metric Evaluation and Comparison with State and Federal Healthcare Policy.
The healthcare organization’s results were compared to those found in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the National Healthcare Quality & Disparities Report (NHQDR) to determine whether national and state standards were met. Several of the metrics investigated were in direct conflict with state policy. There is a notable shift in the reported regularity of both foot exams and HgbA1c tests. In 2019, yearly foot tests dropped from 60 to 42 between quarters 1 and 3. The rate of HgbA1c testing declined significantly between the first and fourth quarters of 2019, from 60 to 42, and in the first and fourth quarters of 2020, from 72 to 64. The most significant finding from the assessment is that the Mercy Medical Center is underperforming compared to the benchmarks because the volume of tests is not rising continuously.
Using benchmarks in medical facilities can be improved with policies that offer guidance and direction. The Affordable Care Act (ACA), the National Quality Forum (NQF), and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) are just a few of the regulations that assist in influencing benchmarks. The state’s Office of Health Strategy (OHS) supervises medical center benchmarking in Connecticut. One of the efforts that have received much support is the Connecticut Healthcare Innovation Plan, an action plan for improving the state’s healthcare quality. The strategy includes methods for increasing the application of data and standards to raise healthcare quality while decreasing costs. Inadequate historical data can have a major effect on benchmark evaluation, causing skewed benchmarks, limited insights, lower trust in the findings of benchmark review, and a lack of total comparability. It is crucial to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the historical data to establish reliable benchmarks.
Analyze the consequence(s) of not meeting prescribed benchmarks and the impact this has on healthcare organizations or teams.
Healthcare organizations falling short of their objectives can seriously affect their ability to deliver on their goals. When a healthcare provider fails to meet standards set by authorities, its reputation can suffer. Patients and others who care about the organization may lose faith if they believe it provides subpar service or fails to accomplish its goals. This could make it harder for the organization to attract new clients, keep existing ones, and retain its best employees. Healthcare industry employees who fall below expectations may find their funding reduced. Financial sponsors, such as insurance companies or governmental organizations, may be dissatisfied with the organization’s overall performance, which could lead to its funding being cut (Akinleye et al., 2019).
Organizations in the healthcare industry that consistently underperform may struggle to find and keep talented workers (Akinleye et al., 2019). When considering working for an organization with a poor reputation, prospective employees may be reluctant to apply. If current staff members cannot provide adequate care, they may resign. Inadequate standards might harm the morale of healthcare personnel. Staff members who cannot meet the needs of their clients experience low morale. This can lead to decreased output, dissatisfaction, and increased turnover. In healthcare, errors and poor results are more likely when standards are not reached. For instance, patients could be at risk if the institution routinely fails to meet drug delivery or infection control and prevention standards.
What are the challenges that may potentially contribute to benchmark underperformance?
It may be challenging for healthcare organizations to meet the requirements if they lack sufficient resources, staff, equipment, or facilities. If an organization lacks sufficient funds, it might be unable to give its patients the best care possible or keep up with their needs (Fulmer et al., 2021). Patient populations with chronic conditions may challenge healthcare providers to meet quality indicators. It is also possible that hospitals and other medical facilities may not adopt current advancements in healthcare as scientific knowledge and technology continue to progress rapidly. Regulations in the healthcare industry are notably complex and subject to frequent change. Penalties in fines or legal trouble may arise from breaking the rules. Despite how vital patient engagement is to meeting healthcare benchmarks, it can be difficult for physicians to implement. Individuals may not want to participate in care planning or lack the knowledge to take charge of their health.
The assumption that healthcare organizations want to fulfill specific quality and performance standards leads to the conclusion that several impediments may lead to low benchmark performance. Furthermore, healthcare standards are considered reliable indicators of quality and effectiveness. The results also postulate that healthcare professionals confront several challenges that may reduce their performance compared to required standards. These challenges are illuminated by healthcare sector researchers, information collectors, and the skills and insights of medical care professionals.
Benchmark Underperformance
The 2019 HgbA1c test results at Mercy Medical Center fell short of expectations. The overall number of people taking tests has declined significantly in recent years. Patients with diabetes should have their HgbA1c checked regularly. For example, in the last three months of 2019, 42 patients underwent this test. Providing care that falls short of the patient’s expectations is unprofessional. Since Mercy Medical Center is one of the finest hospitals in the area, this glycohemoglobin test, ideally, should be administered there. The facility’s leadership should establish guidelines, and all medical staff should adhere to those regulations to ensure the safety of diabetic patients. Mercy Medical Care claims that the number of ICUs has remained steady at eight throughout the past decade. Because of this, people seeking care at the facility are likely to have low expectations for how convenient it will be for the organization to meet their needs in the future.
The number of recorded foot exams also appears to be decreasing. A training program to teach people about how important these tests are to the quality and performance of services is an excellent proposal. Regular testing can aid in the management and prevention of diabetes. It is a significant missed opportunity if those who are at risk for complications fail to be diagnosed so they can get quick treatment. Corsino et al. (2021) note that when diabetes is diagnosed and treated immediately, patients have a better chance of recovering, and hospitals may gain recognition for their efforts. This quality indicator may affect a few locals who frequent Mercy Medical Centre. They will go without treatment, and it is possible that the desired health outcomes will not be obtained. It is proposed that the interdisciplinary team create an educational awareness campaign to address the issue of low performance. Despite its primary target audience being people with diabetes, this project should be open to everyone in the community.
Ethical and Sustainable Actions
A multidisciplinary approach involving several parties is required to increase the number of diabetic patients who undergo foot examinations. Patients typically begin interacting with their primary care physician (PCP) when seeking help managing their diabetes. Helping people with diabetes set up regular foot exams and learn correct foot care is a service they can provide. Comprehensive care plans for people with diabetes may include routine foot examinations from endocrinologists and PCPs. Blood sugar monitoring and patient education are other examples of how nurses and nurse practitioners contribute to diabetes care. They can also encourage diabetic patients to come in for regular foot inspections and educate them on the importance of doing so.
Diabetic people should have their feet checked often to avoid developing foot problems that can have a negative impact on their health and quality of life. Foot ulcers, infections, and amputations are all made more probable by nerve damage and poor blood flow resulting from diabetes complications (Bekele et al., 2020). Examining one’s feet routinely can help spot abnormalities before they get worse and treat them if they result. By encouraging more diabetic people to have annual foot exams, stakeholders can improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. Hospitalizations and unnecessary treatments like amputations can be avoided, for instance, if foot ulcers are diagnosed and treated promptly. People with diabetes might benefit from monitoring their glucose levels and avoiding complications like heart disease and kidney damage by having regular foot exams.
Ethical and Sustainable Actions
Regardless of their ability to pay, race, or ethnicity, all patients should have equal access to quality healthcare (Bielińska et al., 2022). This ensures that everyone can achieve his or her optimal level of health and may help reduce existing disparities in patient outcomes. When providing care, the stakeholder groups should prioritize the patient’s preferences first. Patients’ cultural concepts and values should be respected, and consumers should be included in decision-making. The organization must ensure the privacy and security of patient information by adhering to all applicable laws and regulations. A positive patient experience can be fostered, and trust among patients and their healthcare providers can grow.
Conclusion
Healthcare providers can learn a lot when determining their efficacy by comparing their products to industry standards. Analyzing one’s performance compared to standards and best practices can help healthcare institutions better serve their patients, save money, and improve the quality of care. However, there are challenges to benchmark evaluation, so healthcare facilities should be wary of blindly adopting any set of standards. In order to get reliable benchmarking findings, healthcare facilities need to engage key stakeholders and foster a culture of constant improvement. Through benchmark data, healthcare providers may ensure they provide their patients with the highest standard of care possible.

References
Akinleye, D., McNutt, A., Lazariu, V., & McLaughlin, C. (2019). Correlation between hospital finances and quality and safety of patient care. PLOS ONE, 14(8), e0219124. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0219124
Bekele, F., Chelkeba, L., Fekadu, G., & Bekele, K. (2020). Risk factors and outcomes of diabetic foot ulcer among diabetes mellitus patients admitted to Nekemte Referral Hospital, Western Ethiopia: Prospective observational study. Annals of Medicine and Surgery, 51, 17–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2020.01.005
Bielińska, K., Chowaniec, A., Doričić, R., Nowak, M., Orzechowski, M., Ramšak, M., Łuków, P., Muzur, A., Zupanič-Slavec, Z., & Steger, F. (2022). Equal access to healthcare in national legislations: How do Croatia, Germany, Poland, and Slovenia counteract discrimination in healthcare? BMC Health Services Research, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-07453-6
Corsino, L., Ketan Dhatariya, & Umpierrez, G. (2021, December). Management of Diabetes and Hyperglycemia in Hospitalized Patients. Nih.gov; MDText.com, Inc. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279093/
Fulmer, T., Reuben, B., Auerbach, J., Fick, M., Galambos, C., & Johnson, S. (2021). Actualizing better health and health care for older adults. Health Affairs, 40(2). https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.01470
Pantaleon, L. (2019). Why measuring outcomes is important in health care. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 33(2), 356–362. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15458
Quentin, W., Partanen, V.-M., Brownwood, I., & Klazinga, N. (2019). Measuring healthcare quality. European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549260/

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Write a 3-5 page report for a senior leader that communicates your evaluation of current organizational or interprofessional team performance, with respect to prescribed benchmarks set forth by government laws and policies at the local, state, and federal levels.

Introduction

In the era of health care reform, many of the laws and policies set forth by government at the local, state, and federal levels have specific performance benchmarks related to care delivery outcomes that organizations must achieve. It is critical for organizational success that the interprofessional care team is able to understand reports and dashboards that display the metrics related to performance and compliance benchmarks.

Maintaining standards and promoting quality in modern health care are crucial, not only for the care of patients, but also for the continuing success and financial viability of health care organizations. In the era of health care reform, health care leaders must understand what quality care entails and how quality in health care connects to the standards set forth by relevant federal, state, and local laws and policies. Understanding relevant benchmarks that result from these laws and policies and how they relate to quality care and regulatory standards is also vitally important.

Health care is a dynamic, complex, and heavily regulated industry. For this reason, you will be expected to constantly scan the external environment for emerging laws, new regulations, and changing industry standards. You may discover that as new policies are enacted into law, ambiguity in interpretation of various facets of the law may occur. Sometimes, new laws conflict with preexisting laws and regulations, or unexpected implementation issues arise, which may warrant further clarification from lawmakers. Adding partisan politics and social media to the mix can further complicate understanding of the process and buy-in from stakeholders.

Health care is a dynamic, complex, and heavily regulated industry. For this reason, you will be expected to constantly scan the external environment for emerging laws, new regulations, and changing industry standards. You may discover that as new policies are enacted into law, ambiguity in interpretation of various facets of the law may occur. Sometimes, new laws conflict with preexisting laws and regulations, or unexpected implementation issues arise, which may warrant further clarification from lawmakers. Adding partisan politics and social media to the mix can further complicate understanding of the process and buy-in from stakeholders.

Instructions

Choose one of the following two options for a performance dashboard to use as the basis for your evaluation:

Option 1: Dashboard Metrics Evaluation Simulation

Use the data presented in your Assessment 1 Dashboard and Health Care Benchmark Evaluation activity as the basis for your evaluation.

Note: The writing you do as part of the simulation could serve as a starting point to build upon for this assessment.

Option 2: Actual Dashboard

Use an actual dashboard from a professional practice setting for your evaluation. If you decide to use actual dashboard metrics, be sure to add a brief description of the organization and setting that includes:

• The size of the facility that the dashboard is reporting on.
• The specific type of care delivery.
• The population diversity and ethnicity demographics.
• The socioeconomic level of the population served by the organization.

Note: Ensure your data are Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant. Do not use any easily identifiable organization or patient information.

To complete this assessment:

1. Review the performance dashboard metrics in your Assessment 1 Dashboard and Health Care Benchmark Evaluation activity, as well as relevant local, state, and federal laws and policies. Consider the metrics that are falling short of the prescribed benchmarks. Note: The writing you do as part of the simulation could serve as a starting point to build upon for this assessment.
2. Write a report for a senior leader that communicates your evaluation of current organizational or interprofessional team performance, with respect to prescribed benchmarks set forth by government laws and policies at the local, state, and federal levels. In addition, advocate for ethical and sustainable action to address benchmark underperformance and explain the potential for improving the overall quality of care and performance, as reflected on the performance dashboard.
3. Make sure your report meets the Report Requirements listed below. Structure it so that it will be easy for a colleague or supervisor to locate the information they need, and be sure to cite the relevant health care policies or laws when evaluating metric performance against established benchmarks.

Report Requirements

The report requirements outlined below correspond to the scoring guide criteria, so be sure to address each main point. Read the performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be assessed. In addition, be sure to note the requirements for document format and length and for supporting evidence.

• Evaluate dashboard metrics associated with benchmarks set forth by local, state, or federal health care laws or policies.
  • Which metrics are not meeting the benchmark for the organization?
  • What are the local, state, or federal health care policies or laws that establish these benchmarks?
  • What conclusions can you draw from your evaluation?
  • Are there any unknowns, missing information, unanswered questions, or areas of uncertainty where additional information could improve your evaluation?
• Analyze the consequence(s) of not meeting prescribed benchmarks and the impact this has on health care organizations or teams.
  • Consider the following examples:
    • Organizational mission and vision.
    • Resources.
      • Staffing.
      • Financial: Operational and capital funding.
      • Logistical considerations: Physical space.
      • Support services (any ancillary department that gives support to a specific care unit in the organization, such as pharmacy, cleaning services, dietary, et cetera).
    • Cultural diversity in the community.
    • Staff skills.
    • Procedures and processes.
  • Address the following:
    • What are the challenges that may potentially contribute to benchmark underperformance?
    • What assumptions underlie your conclusions?
• Evaluate a benchmark underperformance in a heath care organization or interprofessional team that has the potential for greatly improving overall quality or performance.
  • Focus on the benchmark you chose to target for improvement. Which metric is underperforming its benchmark by the greatest degree?
  • State the benchmark underperformance that is the most widespread throughout the organization or interprofessional team.
  • State the benchmark that affects the greatest number of patients.
  • Include how this underperformance will affect the community that the organization serves.
  • Include the greatest opportunity to improve the overall quality of care or performance of the organization or interpersonal team and, ultimately, to improve patient outcomes, as you think about the issue and the current poor benchmark outcomes.
• Advocate for ethical and sustainable action(s), directed toward an appropriate group of stakeholders, needed to address a benchmark underperformance.
  • Who would be an appropriate group of stakeholders to act on improving your identified benchmark metric?
  • Why should the stakeholder group take action?
  • What are some ethical actions the stakeholder group could take that support improved benchmark performance?
• Organize content so ideas flow logically with smooth transitions.
  • Proofread your report, before you submit it, to minimize errors that could distract readers and make it more difficult for them to focus on the substance of your evaluation and analysis.
• Support main points, assertions, arguments, conclusions, or recommendations with relevant and credible evidence.
  • Be sure to apply correct APA formatting to source citations and references.

Report Format and Length

Format your report using APA style.

• Use the APA Style Paper Tutorial [DOCX] to help you in writing and formatting your report. Be sure to include:
  • A title and references page. An abstract is not required.
  • Appropriate section headings.
• Your report should be 3–5 pages in length, not including the title page and references page.

Supporting Evidence

Cite 4–6 credible sources from peer-reviewed journals or professional industry publications to support your analysis of challenges, evaluation of potential for improvement, and your advocacy for ethical action.

Portfolio Prompt: You may choose to save your report to your ePortfolio.

Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:

• Competency 1: Analyze relevant health care laws, policies, and regulations; their application; and their effects on organizations, interprofessional teams, and professional practice.
  • Analyze the consequence(s) of not meeting prescribed benchmarks and the impact this has on health care organizations or teams.
• Competency 2: Lead the development and implementation of ethical and culturally sensitive policies that improve health outcomes for individuals, organizations, and populations.
  • Advocate for ethical and sustainable action(s), directed toward an appropriate group of stakeholders, needed to address a benchmark underperformance.
• Competency 3: Evaluate relevant indicators of performance, such as benchmarks, research, and best practices, to inform health care laws and policies for patients, organizations, and populations.
  • Evaluate dashboard metrics associated with benchmarks set forth by local, state, or federal health care laws or policies.
  • Evaluate a benchmark underperformance in a health care organization or interprofessional team that has the potential for greatly improving quality or performance.
• Competency 5: Produce clear, coherent, and professional written work, in accordance with Capella’s writing standards.
  • Organize content so ideas flow logically with smooth transitions.
  • Support main points, assertions, arguments, conclusions, or recommendations with relevant and credible evidence.