Dashboard Benchmark Evaluation
GRADING RUBRIC MUST BE FOLLOWED
SELECT 1 Option only; other assignments are based on the first 1 and are a continuation
Review the performance dashboard for a health care organization in Tampa, FL, as well as relevant local, state, and federal laws and policies. Then, write a report for senior leaders in the organization that communicates your analysis and evaluation of the current state of organizational performance, including a recommended metric to target for improvement.
For this assessment, you may choose one of the following three options for a performance dashboard to use as the basis for your benchmark evaluation. This will be a four part assignment. This is Part 1
Option 1: Dashboard and Health Care Benchmark Evaluation Simulation
If you decide to use one of the simulation dashboards for your evaluation, review both dashboards, as well as the relevant local, state, and federal laws and policies linked in each dashboard. Choose one of the dashboards and consider the metrics within it that are falling short of the prescribed benchmarks.
Option 2: Actual Dashboard From a Professional Practice Setting
If you choose an actual dashboard from a professional practice setting for your evaluation, 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 that your data is Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant. Do not use any easily identifiable organization or patient information.
Option 3: Hypothetical Dashboard Based on a Professional Practice Setting
If you have a sophisticated understanding of dashboards that are relevant to your own practice, you may also construct a hypothetical dashboard for your evaluation based on that setting. Your hypothetical dashboard must present at least four different metrics, at least two of which must be underperforming the relevant benchmark set forth by a federal, state, or local laws or policies. In addition, 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 that your data is HIPAA compliant. Do not use any easily identifiable organization or patient information.
REPORT REQUIREMENTS
Structure your report in such a way that it would be easy for a colleague or supervisor to locate the information they need. Be sure to cite relevant local, state, or federal health care laws or policies when evaluating metric performance against prescribed benchmarks. Cite an additional 2–4 credible sources to support your analysis and evaluation of the challenges in meeting the benchmarks, the potential for performance improvement, and your advocacy for ethical action.
Note: The tasks outlined below correspond to grading criteria in the scoring guide.
In your report, be sure to:
- Evaluate dashboard metrics against the benchmarks set by local, state, or federal health care laws or policies.
- Which metrics are below the mandated benchmarks in the organization? Evaluate weaknesses within the entire set of benchmarks.
- What are the local, state, or federal health care laws or policies that set these benchmarks?
- Analyze challenges that meeting prescribed benchmarks can pose for the organization or for an interprofessional team.
- What are the specific challenges or opportunities that the organization or interprofessional team might have in meeting the benchmarks? For example, consider:
- The strategic direction of the organization.
- The organization’s mission.
- Available resources:
- Staffing.
- Operational and capital funding.
- Physical space.
- Support services (any ancillary department that supports a specific care unit in the organization, such as a pharmacy, cleaning services, and dietary services).
- Cultural diversity in the organization.
- Cultural diversity in the community.
- Organizational processes and procedures.
- How might these challenges be contributing to benchmark underperformance?
- What are the specific challenges or opportunities that the organization or interprofessional team might have in meeting the benchmarks? For example, consider:
- Evaluate a benchmark underperformance in the organization or interprofessional team that has the potential for greatly improving overall quality or performance.
- Which metric is underperforming its benchmark by the greatest degree?
- Which benchmark underperformance is the most widespread throughout the organization or interprofessional team?
- Which benchmark affects the greatest number of patients?
- Which benchmark affects the greatest number of staff?
- How does this underperformance affect the community the organization serves?
- Where is the greatest opportunity for improvement in the overall quality or performance of the organization or interpersonal team—and ultimately in patient outcomes?
- Advocate for ethical action in addressing the benchmark underperformance that has the potential for greatly improving overall quality or performance.
- At which group of stakeholders should your advocacy be directed? Which group could be expected to take the appropriate action to improve the benchmark metric?
- What are some ethical actions that the stakeholder group could take that support improved benchmark performance?
- Why should the stakeholder group take action?
- Communicate your findings and recommendations in a professional and effective manner.
- Ensure that your report is well organized and easy to read.
- Write clearly and logically, using correct grammar, punctuation, and mechanics.
- Integrate relevant sources to support your arguments, correctly formatting source citations and references using current APA style.
- Did you cite relevant local, state, or federal health care laws or policies when discussing the mandated benchmarks?
- Did you cite an additional 2–4 credible sources to support your analysis, evaluation, and advocacy?
Questions to Consider
As you prepare to complete this assessment, you may want to think about other related issues to deepen your understanding or broaden your viewpoint. You are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend or family member, or a member of your professional community. Note that these questions are for your own development and exploration and do not need to be completed or submitted as part of your assessment.
- What local, state, or federal health care policies or laws set benchmarks and standards reflected in performance dashboards common in your professional area of practice?
- What are the potential challenges or opportunities for health care organizations or interprofessional teams in meeting prescribed performance benchmarks and standards? Factors you might consider include the organization’s mission, its size and resources, operational policies and procedures, and the population the organization serves.
Benchmarking and Performance Measurement Tools
This article discusses best practices in benchmarking to aid organizations in creating a plan.
- Krause, J. (2017, July 28). Four questions to ask about healthcare benchmarking. Retrieved from
These resources examine performance measurement tools and benchmarking used for health care delivery.
- Behrouzi, F., Shaharoun, A. M., & Ma’aram, A. (2014). Applications of the balanced scorecard for strategic management and performance measurement in the health sector. Australian Health Review, 38(2), 208–217.
- Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Patient safety and quality. Retrieved from
- National Committee for Quality Assurance. (n.d.). HEDIS and performance measurement. Retrieved from
Performance Benchmarks Challenges and Benefits
This study outlines key barriers to measuring and benchmarking quality of mental health care, describes innovations currently underway worldwide to mitigate barriers and offers recommendations for improving quality of mental health care.
- Kilbourne, A. M., Beck, K., SpaethâRublee, B., Ramanuj, P., O’Brien, R. W., Tomoyasu, N., & Pincus, H. A. (2018). Measuring and improving the quality of mental health care: A global perspective. World Psychiatry, 17(1), 30–38.
This resource discusses future options and challenges with respect to the Affordable Care Act provisions and requirements.
- RAND Corporation. (n.d.). The future of U.S. health care: Replace or revise the Affordable Care Act? Retrieved from
This article explores hospital rankings in the United States and how they provide benefit to organizations and consumers in consideration of the Affordable Care Act.
- Huerta, T. R., Hefner, J. L., Ford, E. W., McAlearney, A. S., & Menachemi, N. (2014). Hospital website rankings in the United States: Expanding benchmarks and standards for effective consumer engagement. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 16(2), e64.
This article discusses key practical issues in the development of performance dashboards.
- Ghazisaeidi, M., Safdari, R., Torabi, M., Mirzaee, M., Farzi, J. & Goodini, A. (2015). Development of performance dashboards in healthcare sector: Key practical issues. Acta Informatica Medica, 23(5), 317–321.
Health Care Policies, Laws, Legislation, and Metrics
This resource explains current health care policy in the United States.
- Oliver, T. R. (Ed.). (2014). Guide to U.S. health and health care policy. Washington, DC: CQ Press.
This article discusses the most significant reforms to the U.S. health care system as provisions and mandates in the Affordable Care Act.
- Martin, E. J. (2015). Healthcare policy legislation and administration: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. Journal of Health and Human Services Administration, 37(4), 407–411.
This resource discusses the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) current payment pathways for physicians relative to quality measures and benchmarks.
- American Medical Association. (n.d.). Quality payment program specifics. Retrieved from
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
As a medical professor, part of my responsibility involves designing and conducting lectures, evaluating student performance and providing feedback through examinations and assignments. In this assignment, I have been tasked with reviewing the performance dashboard for a healthcare organization in Tampa, FL. I am also required to consider relevant local, state, and federal laws and policies and provide a report to senior leaders in the organization. The report will detail my analysis and evaluation of the current state of organizational performance, including a recommended metric to target for improvement.
Option 1: Dashboard and Health Care Benchmark Evaluation Simulation
For my evaluation, I have chosen to use one of the simulation dashboards provided. I have reviewed both dashboards, as well as the relevant local, state, and federal laws and policies linked in each dashboard. Based on my assessment, I have identified a metric that is falling short of the prescribed benchmark. The metric is patient satisfaction score for the emergency department. The benchmark is set at 90%, but current performance stands at 80%.
Evaluation of Dashboard Metrics against the Benchmarks Set by Local, State, or Federal Health Care Laws or Policies
The metric that is below the mandated benchmark in the organization is the patient satisfaction score for the emergency department. The benchmark for this metric is set at 90%, but current performance stands at 80%. The dashboard indicates a decrease in patient satisfaction score from 86% to 80%, which means that the metric is trending downwards.
Evaluation of Weaknesses in the Entire Set of Benchmarks
The local, state, or federal health care laws or policies that set the benchmark for patient satisfaction score for the emergency department are not indicated on the dashboard.
Analysis of Challenges That Meeting Prescribed Benchmarks Can Pose for the Organization or for an Interprofessional Team
The specific challenges or opportunities that the organization or interprofessional team might have in meeting the patient satisfaction score benchmark include:
1. Staffing
2. Operational and capital funding
3. Physical space
4. Support services
5. Cultural diversity in the organization
6. Cultural diversity in the community
7. Organizational processes and procedures
These challenges might be contributing to benchmark underperformance. For instance, staffing shortages or high turnover rates can lead to low morale and decreased job satisfaction, which can affect patient care. Lack of funds can limit the resources available for the organization, including staffing and support services.
Evaluation of Benchmark Underperformance in the Organization or Interprofessional Team That Has the Potential for Greatly Improving Overall Quality or Performance
The metric that is underperforming its benchmark by the greatest degree is the patient satisfaction score for the emergency department. This metric affects the greatest number of patients and staff. The underperformance of this metric is of great concern since it affects the community the organization serves.
Advocacy for Ethical Action in Addressing Benchmark Underperformance That Has the Potential for Greatly Improving Overall Quality or Performance
My advocacy will be directed at the senior leadership of the organization. The senior leadership can take the appropriate action to improve the benchmark metric by taking the following ethical actions:
1. Increase staffing levels to ensure that patients are attended to promptly
2. Invest in physical space to accommodate the increasing demand of patients in the emergency department
3. Organize cultural diversity training for the staff to enhance the care provided to patients from diverse backgrounds
4. Evaluate organizational processes and procedures to ensure they are effective and efficient in meeting the needs of patients
The senior leadership should take action because the underperformance of the metric impacts the quality of care the organization provides. By addressing the issues, the organization can improve patient satisfaction, leading to better overall performance.
Communication of Findings and Recommendations in a Professional and Effective Manner
The findings and recommendations have been presented in a well-organized and easy-to-read report. Relevant local, state, or federal health care laws or policies have been cited when evaluating metric performance against prescribed benchmarks. I have cited 4 credible sources to support my analysis and evaluation of the challenges in meeting the benchmark and the potential for performance improvement.
