NHS FPX 6004 Assessment 1 Dashboard Metrics Evaluation

 
While the number of eye exams fluctuated over the last two years, it has shown a positive trend overall, increasing from 50 in Q1 2019 to 64 in Q4 2020. However, it is still lower than the foot and HgbA1c exams, which underscores the need to prioritize and increase the number of foot and HgbA1c exams. Overall, the provided data emphasizes the importance of using dashboards and reports to identify areas that need improvement in healthcare organizations’ diabetes care (Ferstad et al., 2021).

Organizational Performance Shortfalls
Specifically, there seems to be a low percentage of African American patients receiving care for diabetes at the hospital, with only 3 percent of new patients in the last quarter being African American (Buja et al., 2019).

Another area of concern is the foot exam metric, where the hospital performed below the benchmark in Q3 and Q4 of 2019. This could indicate a gap in the hospital’s processes for ensuring that all patients with diabetes receive appropriate foot exams, which are essential for preventing diabetic foot ulcers and amputations.

In addition, while the hospital’s performance on the HgbA1c metric improved in Q3 of 2020, it was still below the benchmark in other quarters. This metric is a key indicator of long-term blood sugar control in patients with diabetes, and a high HgbA1c level can nerve damage. Therefore, it is important for the hospital to consistently meet or exceed this benchmark (Thewjitcharoen et al., 2019).

Consequences of Not Meeting the Benchmark
Failing to meet prescribed benchmarks can have significant consequences for healthcare organizations or teams. For example, in the case of Mercy Medical Center, the low rate of foot exams and declining HgbA1c exams among new diabetic patients are areas of concern. These tests are important in identifying potential diabetes-related complications early, which can help prevent serious health issues and reduce healthcare costs. Failure to perform these tests can result in undetected complications, leading to increased hospitalizations, higher healthcare costs, and potentially worse outcomes for patients.

Furthermore, not meeting benchmarks can have financial implications for healthcare organizations. Local, state, and federal laws and policies often tie reimbursement rates to quality and performance measures. If a healthcare organization consistently fails to meet benchmarks, it may receive lower reimbursements for services, resulting in financial losses. Additionally, healthcare organizations that fail to meet benchmarks may face negative publicity and decreased patient trust, which can further harm their financial performance.