Identify 6–8 measures for inclusion in a dashboard for the Community General Hospital Board. What organizational, national, and regulatory factors contributed to your decision to focus on these areas? Describe what you would expect to learn from measurement and evaluation of your identified priority areas. Be specific and provide examples.
Dashboard is an effective tool for capturing and presenting key performance indicators (KPIs) in a concise and easily understandable manner. For the Community General Hospital Board, it is crucial to identify the most appropriate measures to include in the dashboard to provide a comprehensive overview of the hospital’s performance. In choosing these measures, several organizational, national, and regulatory factors need to be considered.
One key organizational factor to consider is the hospital’s strategic objectives. These objectives define what the hospital aims to accomplish and provide guidance for measuring and evaluating performance. For example, if one of the hospital’s strategic objectives is to reduce readmission rates, a key measure to include in the dashboard could be the percentage of patients readmitted within 30 days of discharge. This measure directly aligns with the hospital’s objective and provides a clear indicator of performance in this area.
Another organizational factor to consider is financial performance. As a non-profit hospital, financial sustainability is crucial for Community General Hospital. Including measures related to revenue, expenses, and profitability in the dashboard can help the Board assess the hospital’s financial health and make informed decisions. For example, key measures to include could be operating margin, average collection period, and cost per patient.
National factors need to be considered to ensure compliance with regulations and benchmark performance against industry standards. One example is the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey, which is a standardized national survey that measures patients’ perspectives on hospital care. Including measures related to patient satisfaction, such as HCAHPS scores, in the dashboard can provide valuable insights into the hospital’s quality of care and patient experience.
Regulatory factors also play a significant role in defining the measures to include in the dashboard. Compliance with federal and state regulations is essential for Community General Hospital to maintain its license and accreditation. For example, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) require hospitals to report specific quality measures, such as hospital-acquired infections and patient safety indicators. Including these measures in the dashboard ensures the hospital is meeting regulatory requirements and provides transparency to the Board and other stakeholders.
Considering the factors discussed above, here are six measures that could be included in the dashboard for the Community General Hospital Board:
1. Patient Satisfaction: This measure can be assessed using the HCAHPS survey and provides insights into the hospital’s performance in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. For example, tracking the percentage of patients who rate the hospital as “highly satisfactory” can indicate improvements in patient experience.
2. Readmission Rates: This measure reflects the hospital’s ability to provide effective care and prevent unnecessary hospitalizations. For example, tracking the percentage of patients readmitted within 30 days of discharge can identify areas for improvement in care transitions, medication management, and follow-up protocols.
3. Financial Performance: Measures such as operating margin, average collection period, and cost per patient can provide a comprehensive view of the hospital’s financial health. Declining operating margins or increasing costs per patient may signal financial challenges that require attention.
4. Patient Safety: Measures such as hospital-acquired infections and patient safety indicators can indicate the hospital’s commitment to providing safe care. For example, tracking the rate of central line-associated bloodstream infections can demonstrate improvements in infection control practices.
5. Compliance with Regulatory Requirements: Measures related to regulatory requirements, such as CMS quality measures, can demonstrate the hospital’s compliance and commitment to providing high-quality care. For example, tracking the hospital’s performance on specific quality measures can indicate adherence to national standards.
6. Employee Engagement: Measures such as employee satisfaction, turnover rates, and staff-to-patient ratios can provide insights into the hospital’s workforce. High employee satisfaction and low turnover rates are indicators of a positive work environment and can contribute to better patient outcomes.
By including these measures in the dashboard, the Board can gain valuable insights into the hospital’s performance in key areas such as patient satisfaction, readmission rates, financial health, patient safety, regulatory compliance, and employee engagement. The measurement and evaluation of these priority areas can help the Board identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement. For example, if the dashboard shows a decline in patient satisfaction scores, the Board can explore potential reasons and initiate targeted interventions to improve patient experience, such as enhancing communication between providers and patients. Similarly, if the financial performance measures show declining profitability, the Board can evaluate cost-saving opportunities or revenue growth strategies. Ultimately, the dashboard enables the Board to make data-driven decisions and monitor progress towards the hospital’s strategic objectives, ensuring the provision of high-quality and financially sustainable healthcare services.