NHS FPX 6004 Assessment 1 Dashboard Metrics Evaluation

Name

Capella university

NHS-FPX 6004 Health Care Law and Policy

Prof. Name

Date

Dashboard Metrics Evaluation

Mercy Medical Center (MMC) is a well-established and renowned healthcare facility in Shakopee City, Minnesota. This healthcare organization continuously strives to maintain its excellence in healthcare delivery. However, some underperformance related to diabetes screening tests has been observed within the facility. This paper evaluates the hospital’s dashboard metrics, identifying shortfalls against benchmarks. Moreover, this paper analyzes the consequences of poor performance, elaborating evidence-based actions to address the underperforming benchmarks.

Evaluation of Dashboard Metrics Against Benchmarks

The dashboard fact sheet from MMC presents data on three diabetes tests: eye examination, foot examination, and HBA1c tests. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)’s state-level benchmarks for Minnesota, Vila Health organization is short falling all diabetes metrics. The evaluation of these metrics against benchmarks is as follows (AHRQ, n.d.):

The 2021 benchmark for dilated eye examination among diabetic patients is 68.9%, whereas the baseline rate is 74.9%. However, the MMC data shows only 35.6% eye tests were conducted in 2019 and 41.4 % in 2020.
Similarly, the 2021 standard for feet examination among diabetic adults is 78.8%, compared to the baseline of 87.7%. The rate at MMC is substantially down, presenting 41% in 2019 and approximately 42% in 2020.
Finally, the benchmark states that diabetic adults should have at least two HBA1c tests within a year, with a standard of 70.7% in a healthcare facility. However, MMC only performed 37.4% and 48.5% tests in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

NHS FPX 6004 Assessment 1 Dashboard Metrics Evaluation

It is concluded from the evaluation that there are significant shortfalls in Mercy Medical Center’s performance regarding diabetes care metrics. Despite this clear conclusion, several unknowns and missing information could enhance the analysis. Further information on contributing factors for this underperformance, such as patient demographics, provider capacity, systemic issues, and resource constraints, will expand the knowledge base, leading to improved analysis of the situation. Additionally, information on the organizational challenges impeding the implementation of interventions to improve diabetes care is crucial for devising effective strategies. Moreover, further exploration of patient outcomes and experiences alongside the metrics is required to provide a comprehensive understanding of MMC’s performance in diabetes management.

Consequences of Benchmarks Underperformance

As presented earlier, MMC is significantly short of meeting the diabetes benchmarks set forth by AHRQ. These poor performances profoundly impact the healthcare organization and interprofessional teams. Every healthcare organization’s overarching mission and vision, including MMC, is to provide high-quality care and improve patient outcomes (Bhati et al., 2023). Falling short of diabetes screening tests undermines the organization’s credibility and ability to fulfill its stated goals. Thus causing a decline in patients’ trust and damaging the organization’s reputation. Another vital aspect affected by organizational underperformance is resource allocation.

Due to constant underperformance, diabetic care and management may require additional costs, disturbing the organization’s financial health (Kansra & Oberoi, 2023). Moreover, this consistent shortfall also hinders an organization’s ability to secure operational and capital funding, limiting investments in essential resources such as staff hiring, educational training, and technological advancements. Ultimately, leading to another concern of limited and optimally trained human resources.

Other challenges related to this underperformance include logistical barriers due to overutilization of healthcare services, disproportionate care to meet healthcare disparities, and deficiencies in staff skills, procedures, and processes. Thus, an organization must improve its performance to enhance efficiency and augment patient health outcomes. This analysis is based on the hypothesis that diabetes is a chronic health condition and requires immediate attention to alleviate its implications on the healthcare organization and patients. Moreover, it is presumed that the healthcare sector aims to prioritize quality care and meet performance metrics through adequate financial and human resources. These factors collectively shape the delivery of healthcare services, improving patient outcomes and organizational performance.

Evaluation of Feet Examination Benchmark

In Mercy Medical Center, the most significant underperformance lies in the metric of feet examination among diabetic adults. The benchmark for this examination is 78.8%, yet the organization’s rate stands substantially lower at 41% and 42% (AHRQ, n.d.). This underperformance has significant implications for the population. Insufficient foot examinations can lead to diabetic foot complications. Diabetic foot refers to a range of problems that can occur in people with diabetes due to nerve damage (neuropathy) and poor blood circulation (vascular disease).

The complications of this syndrome include foot ulcers, infections, and even amputations if left untreated (Stancu et al., 2022). Such consequences diminish individuals’ health and well-being and strain community resources. These encompass healthcare facilities and support services. Moreover, untreated diabetic foot complications can lead to prolonged hospitalizations and increased healthcare costs, burdening both patients and the broader community.

Thus, enhancing the rate of foot examination among diabetic adults can profoundly impact the quality of care and performance within MMC. The organization can employ several strategies, such as scheduling tests and patient education, to proactively identify early signs of foot problems, enabling timely interventions to prevent or mitigate complications (Stancu et al., 2022). This enhances patient outcomes and demonstrates the organization’s commitment to comprehensive diabetes care. Moreover, by addressing this benchmark shortfall, the organization showcases its dedication to evidence-based practice and quality improvement initiatives, fostering a culture of excellence within the team.

Actions to Address the Underperformed Benchmark

The appropriate group of stakeholders to improve foot examinations among diabetic adults are registered nurses. They are crucial in patient care as they are on the frontline, directly involved in conducting foot examinations (Hidalgo-Ruiz et al., 2023). By ensuring thorough foot examinations, they uphold the principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence, promoting patients’ health and preventing avoidable harm. Additionally, they are responsible for adhering to professional standards and guidelines, including those related to diabetes management and preventive care.

Nurses can introduce several ethical and sustainable actions to improve feet examination metrics. These actions include patient education and engagement and streamlined appointment scheduling. Shukla et al. (2020) elaborates that nurses can empower patients about diabetes through education and self-management strategies related to foot care. They can provide education on the importance of regular foot examinations, signs of potential complications, and preventive measures. This action aligns with the ethical principles of patient autonomy and informed decision-making, allowing individuals to manage their health and well-being actively (Shukla et al., 2020). Sustainability goals related to this action include promoting long-term behavior change and reducing the incidence of diabetic foot complications through proactive patient education and empowerment.

NHS FPX 6004 Assessment 1 Dashboard Metrics Evaluation

Simultaneously, nurses can schedule foot examination appointments to ensure diabetic patients have timely access to foot examinations (Stancu et al., 2022). Nurses can collaborate with physicians to plan patients’ tests and set a reminder system within the Electronic Health Records (EHR) to remind patients of their scheduled appointments. For this purpose, IT support will be essential. This evidence-based practice will reduce appointment wait times and facilitate prompt access to foot examinations, minimizing the risk of delayed diagnosis and treatment of foot complications (Stancu et al., 2022).

While the action upholds the ethical principle of beneficence and justice by promoting patient benefit and equitable access to healthcare services for all patients, regardless of their socioeconomic status or geographic location, sustainability goals include enhancing patient satisfaction, improving patient outcomes through timely intervention, and optimizing resource utilization within the healthcare organization.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Mercy Medical Center is short-failing all diabetic screening tests against the established standards. This poor performance may have several negative consequences for the communities and healthcare organizations. One of the significantly impacted benchmarks is the feet examination. Improving these tests can substantially enhance the quality of care and patient outcomes. Therefore, nurses should proactively participate in patient education and appointment scheduling. These ethical and sustainable actions contribute to operational efficiency, reducing administrative burdens and enabling healthcare providers to focus on delivering high-quality care to patients.

References

AHRQ. (n.d.). National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports (NHQDR). datatools.ahrq.gov. https://datatools.ahrq.gov/nhqdr/?tab=state&dash=287

Bhati, D., Deogade, M. S., & Kanyal, D. (2023). Improving patient outcomes through effective hospital administration: A comprehensive review. Cureus, 15(10), e47731. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.47731

Hidalgo-Ruiz, S., Ramírez-Durán, M. del V., Basilio-Fernández, B., Alfageme-García, P., Fabregat-Fernández, J., Jiménez-Cano, V. M., Clavijo-Chamorro, M. Z., & Gomez-Luque, A. (2023). Assessment of diabetic foot prevention by nurses. Nursing Reports, 13(1), 73–84. https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep13010008