Dashboard Benchmark Evaluation

This report evaluates the diabetes dashboard and fact sheet used by Mercy Medical Center, a Vila Health-affiliated hospital. The evaluation identifies the sectors that require improvement to ensure that the best healthcare services are availed to diabetic patients. Get in touch with us at eminencepapers.com. We offer assignment help with high professionalism.

Evaluation of Dashboard Metrics

Data from the dashboard indicates underperformance in the four benchmark metrics. The number of eye exams has fluctuated over the two years. Data from the eight quarters indicates that 50, 48, 60, 42, 62, 48, 58, and 64 eye examinations were conducted in 2019 and 2020, respectively (Dashboard Metrics Evaluation Simulation, n.d.). This is an underperformance compared to the state and federal benchmark values of 73.1 and 75.2, respectively (NHQDR, n.d.). The number of foot exams conducted over the two years is 60, 58, 42, 70, 75, 50, 48, and 62, respectively (Dashboard Metrics Evaluation Simulation, n.d.). These values are lower than the state and federal benchmark values of 82.9 and 84, respectively (NHQDR, n.d.). The number of Hgb1Ac tests conducted over the two years is 60, 48, 60, 42, 72, 58, 78, and 64, respectively (Dashboard Metrics Evaluation Simulation, n.d.). This is lower than the state and federal benchmark values of 70.4 and 79.5, respectively (NHQDR, n.d.).

Evaluation of the metrics recorded in the last year, 2020, reveals that 41.2 percent of diabetic patients received eye exams, 41.7 percent of patients received foot exams, and 48.3 percent of diabetic patients received Hgb1Ac tests. Accordingly, when compared with state and federal benchmarks, foot exams have the worst performance, followed by eye exams. Hgb1Ac tests recorded the best performance among the three benchmarks at Mercy Medical Center. However, Hgb1Ac underperformed when compared with the state and federal benchmark values.

In the context of underperformance in the number of eye exams, patients are predisposed to diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is a microvascular complication that is the leading cause of blindness in people aged between 25 and 75 years in the USA (Wang & Lo, 2018). In the context of underperformance in foot examinations, the patients are at risk of diabetic foot complications. A diabetic foot is a microvascular complication that can manifest as ischemic, neuropathic, or neuro-ischemic foot ulcers (Monteiro-Soares et al., 2020). According to van-Netten et al. (2020), diabetic foot complications decrease the patient’s quality of life and necessitate amputation.

Analysis of Challenges in Achieving Acceptable Performance

The main challenges contributing to the underperformance of the benchmark metrics are the lack of optimized ratios of healthcare providers to patients and the lack of a diabetic management and screening policy. The lack of optimized ratios implies that Mercy Medical Center is understaffed. Understaffing has negative impacts on patient management. The healthcare providers are overwhelmed with their routine workload (Tamata et al., 2021). As a result, this leads to burnout stress and diminished job satisfaction among healthcare providers (Drennan & Ross, 2019). Subsequently, the quality of service delivery is significantly lowered. This explains the underperformance of the three benchmark metrics. Optimization of the healthcare provider-to-patient ratios can be implemented to increase the productivity of the health task force and improve the performance of the benchmark metrics.

The absence of a policy on diabetic management and screening is an enabler for the underperformance of the benchmark metrics. A policy that advocates for routine screening, patient follow-ups, and continuous patient education should be adopted. Routine screening targets patients’ vitals, such as their random blood sugar levels, fasting blood sugar levels, Hgb1Ac, eye and foot examinations, and renal function tests (Johnson & Carragher, 2018). All people with diabetes enrolled at the hospital should undergo routine screening. Patient education should focus on the importance of tight glycemic control and lifestyle modification (Park et al., 2020). Patient follow-ups ensure that patients enrolled at the facility honor their appointment dates and adhere to medical instructions. The incorporation of this policy will improve the performance of the benchmark metrics.

Specific Target for Improvement

Comparing the benchmark metrics with the state and federal benchmark values revealed that the work-perming benchmark is foot exams followed by eye exams. The focus should be channeled on these two benchmarks to improve the overall quality performance. Underperformance in the number of foot exams predisposes patients to diabetic foot complications such as ischemic and neuropathic foot ulcers. These complications lower the quality of life of patients and necessitate amputation. Also, underperformance in the number of eye exams predisposes patients to diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is a microvascular complication and the leading cause of new blindness in Americans aged 25 to 75 years (Wang & Lo, 2018). Early and routine foot and eye exams can facilitate early identification and prompt initiation interventions with a better prognosis. Examples of such interventions include tight glycemic control, reinforcing compliance, modification of treatment plans, and medication regimens (Duarte et al., 2018).

Ethical and Sustainable Recommended Actions

Mercy Medical Center should adopt a policy that advocates for routine screening, patient follow-ups, and continuous patient education to address the underperformance of the benchmark metrics. The hospital should also focus on optimizing the ratios of healthcare providers to patients. The policy should be strictly enforced and aim at improving the three benchmark metrics: eye exams, foot exams, and Hgb1Ac tests. The hospital administration should increase the number of healthcare providers and adopt performance evaluation and appraisal.

Stakeholders involved include the healthcare providers and members of the hospital administration. The hospital administration should recruit additional healthcare providers to optimize their ratios. It should collaborate with healthcare providers to formulate and implement the policy. Accordingly, all healthcare providers collaborate and ensure that the policy is fully implemented. Essentially, the focus should be on achieving the state and federal benchmarks. Stakeholders should embrace healthcare ethics to support improved benchmark performance. According to McDermott-Levy et al. (2018), healthcare ethics include nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice, and patient autonomy.

Thank you for your time. I hope that this report has catered to all the queries you had about the diabetes dashboard and fact sheet used by Mercy Medical Center.

References

Dashboard Metrics Evaluation Simulation.pdf. (n.d.).Dashboard and Healthcare Benchmark Evaluation.

Drennan, V. M., & Ross, F. (2019). Global Nurse Shortages – The Facts, the Impact, and Action for Change. British Medical Bulletin, 130(1), 25–37. https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldz014

Duarte, A. A., Mohsin, S., & Golubnitschaja, O. (2018). Diabetes Care in Figures: Current Pitfalls and Future Scenario. EPMA Journal, 9(2), 125–131. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13167-018-0133-y

Johnson, J. M., & Carragher, R. (2018). Interprofessional Collaboration and the Care and Management of Type 2 Diabetic Patients in the Middle East: A Systematic Review. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 32(5), 621–628. https://doi.org/10.1080/13561820.2018.1471052

McDermott-Levy, R., Leffers, J., & Mayaka, J. (2018). Ethical Principles and Guidelines of Global Health Nursing Practice. Nursing Outlook, 66(5), 473–481. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2018.06.013

Monteiro-Soares, M., Russell, D., Boyko, E. J., Jeffcoate, W., Mills, J. L., Morbach, S., & Game, F. (2020). Guidelines on the Classification of Diabetic Foot Ulcers (IWGDF 2019). Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews, 36(S1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1002/dmrr.3273

National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report. (n.d). Minnesota Diabetes Quality Measures Compared to Achievable Benchmarks. https://nhqrnet.ahrq.gov/inhqrdr/Minnesota/benchmark/table/Diseases_and_Conditions/Diabetes

Park, J. H., Moon, J. H., Kim, H. J., Kong, M. H., & Oh, Y. H. (2020). Sedentary Lifestyle: Overview of Updated Evidence of Potential Health Risks. Korean Journal of Family Medicine, 41(6), 365–373. https://doi.org/10.4082/KJFM.20.0165

Tamata, A. T., Mohammadnezhad, M., & Tamani, L. (2021). Registered Nurses’ Perceptions on the Factors Affecting Nursing Shortage in the Republic of Vanuatu Hospitals: A Qualitative Study. PLoS ONE, 16(5 May), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0251890

van Netten, J. J., Bus, S. A., Apelqvist, J., Lipsky, B. A., Hinchliffe, R. J., Game, F., Rayman, G., Lazzarini, P. A., Forsythe, R. O., Peters, E. J. G., Senneville, É., Vas, P., Monteiro-Soares, M., & Schaper, N. C. (2020). Definitions and Criteria for Diabetic Foot Disease. Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews, 36(S1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1002/dmrr.3268

Wang, W., & Lo, A. C. Y. (2018). Diabetic Retinopathy: Pathophysiology and Treatments. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 19(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19061816

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Question

Assessment 1 Instructions: Dashboard Benchmark Evaluation
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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. In addition, advocates for ethical action to address benchmark underperformance and explains the potential for improving the overall quality of care and performance, as reflected on a performance dashboard.

Dashboard Benchmark Evaluation

Introduction
In the era of health care reform, many of the laws and policies set forth by the 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 healthcare is crucial, not only for the care of patients but also for the continuing success and financial viability of healthcare organizations. In the era of healthcare reform, healthcare 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. An understanding of 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 the 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.

Note: Your evaluation of dashboard metrics for this assessment is the foundation on which all subsequent assessments are based. Therefore, you must complete this assessment first.

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 action to address benchmark underperformance and explain the potential for improving the overall quality of care and performance, as reflected on a performance dashboard.

Review the performance dashboard metrics, as well as relevant local, state, and federal laws and policies. Consider the metrics that are falling short of the prescribed benchmarks. Structure your report so that it will be easy for a colleague or supervisor to locate the information they need, and be sure to cite the relevant healthcare policies or laws when evaluating metric performance against established benchmarks.

Note: Remember that you can submit all or a portion of your draft report to Smarthinking for feedback before you submit the final version for this assessment. If you plan on using this free service, be mindful of the turnaround time of 24–48 hours for receiving feedback.

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

Option 1: Dashboard Metrics Evaluation Simulation
Use the data presented in the Dashboard and Health Care Benchmark Evaluation multimedia activity as the basis for your evaluation.

Note: The writing that 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.

Option 3: Hypothetical Dashboard
If you have a sophisticated understanding of dashboards relevant to your own practice, you may also construct a hypothetical dashboard for your evaluation. Your hypothetical dashboard must present at least four different metrics, at least two of which must be underperforming the prescribed benchmark set forth by 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 your data are HIPAA compliant. Do not use any easily identifiable organization or patient information.

Instructions
Note: Your evaluation of dashboard metrics for this assessment is the foundation on which all subsequent assessments are based. Therefore, you must complete this assessment first.

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, advocates for ethical action to address benchmark underperformance and explains the potential for improving the overall quality of care and performance, as reflected on a performance dashboard.

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 healthcare 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 one challenge that meeting prescribed benchmarks can pose for a health care organization or interprofessional team.
Consider the following examples:
Strategic direction.
Organizational mission.
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 organization and community.
Procedures and processes.
Address the following:
Why do the challenges you identified contribute, potentially, 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. Which benchmark affects the greatest number of staff?
Include how this underperformance affects 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 action directed toward an appropriate group of stakeholders 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.
Example Assessment: You may use the following to give you an idea of what a Proficient or higher rating on the scoring guide would look like:

Assessment 1 Example [PDF].
Report Format and Length
Format your report using APA style.

Use the APA Style Paper Template [DOCX]. An APA Style Paper Tutorial [DOCX] is also provided to help you in writing and formatting your report. Be sure to include:
A title page and references page. An abstract is not required.
A running head on all pages.
Appropriate section headings.
Be sure your report is pages in length, not including the title page and references page.
Supporting Evidence
Cite 3-5 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.

Note: Faculty may use the Writing Feedback Tool when grading this assessment. The Writing Feedback Tool is designed to provide you with guidance and resources to develop your writing based on five core skills. You will find writing feedback in the Scoring Guide for the assessment once your work has been evaluated.

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 course competencies through the following assessment 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 challenges that meeting prescribed benchmarks can pose for a health care organization or interprofessional team.
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 action directed toward an appropriate group of stakeholders to address a benchmark underperformance.
Competency 3: Evaluate relevant indicators of performance, such as benchmarks, research, and best practices, to inform healthcare laws and policies for patients, organizations, and populations.
Evaluate dashboard metrics associated with benchmarks set forth by local, state, or federal healthcare laws or policies.
Evaluate a benchmark underperformance in a health care organization or interprofessional team that has the potential for greatly improving overall 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.

Dashboard Benchmark Evaluation