Lots of profitable corporations are using the balanced scorecard system nowadays with the purpose of improving their performance and identifying the most urgent problems that prevent them from becoming more efficient and successful. However, the BSC system is not meant for corporate use only. In fact, there is an increased need for implementing metrics in other spheres of human activity and medicine is not an exception here. The efficacy and significance of the balance scorecard system should not be underestimated, so it surely makes sense to introduce and track medical metrics for the benefit of this industry.
What you should realize is that designing a trustworthy metrics system in the field of medicine can have lots of positive results. Thus, it can lead both to the improved efficacy of treatment methods and increase of patients’ trust. As a result, this will be reflected in the enhanced quality of human life. Isn’t that something we should strive for? I bet, it is!
Professionalism of doctors, by the way, can sometimes depend upon the system of metrics as well. The more advanced the technology of implementing indicators is – the higher their performance will be. This is because their ability to diagnose patients and prescribe the most suitable treatment is frequently affected by the adequacy and reasonability of introduced metrics. In the long run, doctors will be able to save their precious time in order to cure more people.
The system of measuring metrics is implemented in different fields of medicine these days. However, there are certain problems associated with this painstaking and time-consuming process. In most cases, these failures are the result of the insufficient knowledge of the measurement system and lack of experience. Furthermore, not all organizations manage to identify those areas that require assessment and some of them are not aware of the most significant BSC basics.
Nowadays, we can differentiate between five major groups of metrics that can be implemented in different fields of medicine. These are simple medical indicators, health insurance metrics and those related to medical supplies, dental practice and health care facilities. As far as the development of this industry often requires quick introduction of key performance indicators, there is a need for assessing its numerous functions. Thus, the following KPIs will be of great help here: wait times, level of patient satisfaction, infection control etc. The same indicators may be applicable to the “Medical supplies” category.
Health insurance is another important group that should be considered when it comes to the sphere of medicine. All criteria here should be analyzed with regard to such perspectives as operations, finance, services and customers.
It is not a secret that metrics reveal the basic success issues, which generally depend on conditions and essence of the industry they are related to. As far as health care is concerned, the following dimensions are worth considering: customer perspective, social accountability, operations and financial perspective.
Management of dental sphere is closely associated with the field of medicine as well. Metrics that are used here can help define weak and strong points of a certain dental practice. KPIs that matter in this area are viewed with regard to 4 main perspectives, namely customer, financial, operational efficacy and internal processes.
Medical Metrics: A Perfect Method to Optimize Performance of a Health Care Organization
