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Performance dashboards are essential indicators for healthcare organizations to monitor and evaluate the quality of their services so that effective improvements can be ensured. One such dashboard is evaluated in this assessment for Mercy Medical Center (MMC). The dashboard metrics are for diabetes screening tests, evaluated against the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) benchmarks. Based on the evaluation, an ethical and sustainable action plan is developed to improve the quality of care and address the shortcomings.
Dashboard Metrics Evaluation Against National Benchmarks
For the background, Mercy Medical Center is one of the top healthcare choices for people around Shakopee, Minnesota. The organization has received many awards for safe surgery, outstanding patient experiences, being one of the top 20 workplaces, and being the best hospital for emergency care. These awards and recognition in the healthcare industry oblige MMC to continue providing quality healthcare services and addressing underperformances. However, MMC’s performance dashboard has shown some lack of diabetic screening tests. AHRQ’s benchmarks play an important role in evaluating the dashboard as they are the standards, and healthcare organizations must meet the standards to maintain quality and reputation in the industry.
Data has been collected for three metrics: eye tests, foot examinations, and HBA1c laboratory testing. While the national benchmark for eye exams is 75.2%, MMC had 35.5% tests in 2019 and 41% in 2020. Similarly, the national benchmark for foot exams is 84%, significantly higher than the MMC’s data, at 40-42%. Lastly, only 37% and 48% of HBA1c tests were conducted in 2019 and 2020 at MMC, whereas the national benchmark lies at 79.5% and instructs to get HBA1c levels checked twice a year (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, n.d.; Capella University, n.d.).
The evaluation reveals MMC’s underperformance in all of the diabetes screening tests as compared to the national benchmarks. Since Diabetes is a chronic disease, ensuring patients receive adequate testing to prevent complications and enhance their quality of life is advocated. Thus, organizations must take immediate action to address the shortfalls. Some of the knowledge gaps in this evaluation are related to the frequency of the tests, gender and race-based underperformances to identify the root-cause factors and MMC’s existing approach to tackling the situation. When addressed, these knowledge gaps will help develop organization-centered and effective strategies.
Consequences of Underperforming the Benchmarks
As stated earlier, Diabetes is a chronic healthcare condition that may lead to several complications if it remains undiagnosed or untreated for a longer time. Recently, the prevalence of Diabetes and diabetic complications has been rocketing high, consequently burdening individuals and the healthcare system (Mao et al., 2019). Not meeting diabetes screening benchmarks can lead to delayed diagnosis, increased healthcare risks, and high treatment costs for the patients. Delayed diagnosis can result in missed opportunities, leading to several complications. For example, delaying eye examinations for diabetic patients can lead to diabetic retinopathy, eventually causing blindness. Similarly, a lack of foot exams may cause diabetic foot ulcers and, ultimately, amputation of the leg.
Thus, screening tests are essential for the early detection of complications so that effective interventions can be planned and implemented promptly (Peer et al., 2020). Secondly, without timely screening and diagnosis, individuals may continue to live with undiagnosed Diabetes or diabetic complications, exposing them to various health risks, such as heart diseases, kidney problems, neuropathy (nerve issues), and vision issues (retinopathy). These complications can significantly impact patients’ quality of life. Such complications often require more intensive medical intervention and costly medications, increasing healthcare expenses for individuals and the healthcare system. Therefore, screening tests are essential as this comprehensive primary care will prevent patients from emergencies and hospital admissions (Kaur et al., 2022).
NHS FPX 6004 Assessment 1 Dashboard Metrics Evaluation
On the other hand, this underperformance may have several implications for healthcare organizations and teams. Since the mission of MMC is to provide quality and preventive care to its consumers, underperformance may hinder the accomplishment of the mission. Ultimately, the patient population in MMC may consider the organisation unable to provide preventive care, consequently, p
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