In the present time, healthcare faces a lot of problems and challenges. Constant increases in the rates of chronic diseases and growing demands of patients lead to the need for certain innovations. In a search for solutions, modern healthcare employees are supposed to imply new methods. Sometimes the right answers to the difficult questions of modern medical services can be found in the fields that have no connection with medicine. The technique of benchmarking, mostly used in business and marketing, presents a great value for the continuous improvement of work quality in medical institutions.
Benchmarking is a process of defining, understanding and adaptation of the existing examples of effective functioning of the unit, in order to improve your own work. It includes two main processes, valuing and comparison. Though primarily used only in business, benchmarking has gained much popularity among numerous fields of work due to its effectiveness. It can “highlight innovative ideas and initiate collaborative networks” (Jaegar, 1998, p. 271).
Benchmarking can contribute a lot to the effective work of nurse managers. Their job is mostly connected with creating and supporting a healthy environment for employees and ensuring patients’ satisfaction. Using proper benchmarking, nurse managers can fulfill all the requirements of their job easily. The process should begin with measuring the current performance against the one in the past. The specialist should carefully collect the data about local facilities with similar sizes and numbers of patients. Following the instructions of effective benchmarking, a nurse manager should also study the data about other departments’ budget rates, the success of educational activities and results of work. Besides key performance indicators, patients’ opinions and employees’ references should be considered. An experienced manager should look beyond the numbers, for a better understanding of the specifics of the work process. It will help to see a possible way of upgrading the nurse department according to the desired level of productivity. It will also lead to reducing costs and organizing proper educational activities in the particular facility. Shared governance causes the similarity of conditions and regulations. That is why the comparison of different departments of the same medical institution based on the principles of benchmarking appears to be very effective.
Proper benchmarking stimulates team performance and creates a competitive mood. Workers compare their achievements with their colleagues and have better motivation for self-improvement. A healthy competition result in better collaboration between workers develops a team spirit and helps to establish connections with peer facilities.
Comparison of different approaches is a necessary part of constructing a plan for action. The development of my plan of action can become much easier with the usage of benchmarking. It includes the analysis of the knowledge gained by the colleagues and the most successful experience in establishing efficient work. It will help me to develop an efficacious plan for action and imply some innovative ideas for its modernizing.
Benchmarking is also highly recommended for the upgrade of nurse case management. My job highly depends on the interaction with patients. A registered nurse case manager for a home health agency should be guided by the analysis of patients’ responses. Comparison of the weak and strong points of the work to the performance of the colleagues will give prominent results and improve the quality of the working process.
Benchmarking is the basis of a stable quality improvement (Isenberg, 2004, p.25). Its benefits in healthcare management should not be underestimated. Proper use of this technique gives numerous opportunities for the enhancement of modern medical services. An ongoing benchmarking should become an integral part of nurse management for achieving great results in successful work provision.
References
Isenberg, S. F. (2004). Benchmarking. Ear, Nose & Throat Journal, 83(1), 25.
Jaegar, B. (1998). Benchmarking. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 24(3), 271-273.