NHS FPX 6004 Assessment 1 Dashboard Metrics Evaluation

Name

Capella university

NHS-FPX 6004 Health Care Law and Policy

Prof. Name

Date

Dashboard Benchmark Evaluation

This report aims to evaluate dashboard metrics by comparing them with national or state benchmarks. Various laws and policies at the national, state, and local levels provide healthcare systems with criteria for assessing their performance. By comparing an organization’s dashboard metrics with these benchmarks, it is possible to improve the quality of care, enhance patient safety, and evaluate the performance of healthcare professionals in a specific clinical setting. In this context, the report examines the dashboard metrics data of Mercy Medical Center (MMC) against the benchmarks established by the National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report (NHQDR) to identify MMC’s shortcomings in providing care for diabetic patients.

Comparison and Contrast of Dashboard Metrics with NHQDR Benchmarks

Mercy Medical Center (MMC) is renowned for delivering high-quality care in Shakopee City, earning various awards for safe surgery and exceptional patient experiences. Shakopee City’s population is 36,192, with 18,235 females and 17,957 males. The predominant age group is 21-44, comprising 14,732 individuals. MMC’s Public Health Dashboard on Diabetes includes data on eye exams, foot exams, and HgbA1c tests from the first quarter of 2019 to the fourth quarter of 2020. Additionally, the data covers new patients admitted or visiting MMC based on race, gender, and age. In the last quarter of 2020, MMC admitted 563 patients.

To evaluate the effectiveness of MMC’s diabetic care, it is crucial to compare its dashboard metrics with national benchmarks set by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). AHRQ standards specify 75.2% for eye exams, 84% for foot exams, and 79.5% for HbA1C tests (AHRQ, n.d.). In the last quarter of 2020, MMC’s performance in these tests fell short by 11% on each of these benchmarks, indicating a need for significant improvement to meet national standards. The dashboard metrics data from MMC reveal several knowledge gaps and uncertainties, such as doubts about the credibility of data sources and limited information on data collection methods. Additionally, there is a lack of understanding regarding the factors contributing to the performance gaps in these tests, necessitating further information to enhance evaluation.

Consequences Not Meeting Prescribed Benchmarks

There are significant health implications and consequences when healthcare organizations fail to meet the prescribed benchmarks for diabetes care, which include regular HbA1c tests and eye and foot exams. Not meeting the HbA1c benchmark can result in poor glycemic control, as patients and care providers remain unaware of patients’ glycemic levels. Uncontrolled glycemic levels can lead to diabetes-related diseases such as heart disease, neuropathy, kidney damage, and retinopathy, ultimately compromising patient safety and quality of care (Boye et al., 2022). Moreover, inadequate education on diabetes care and treatment reduces patient satisfaction.

Patients need proper education on performing eye and foot exams to meet national and state benchmarks. Non-compliance with these tests can erode trust in healthcare providers and the organization’s ability to deliver optimal treatments. Healthcare organizations failing to meet established standards face significant impacts, including financial consequences due to higher hospital readmission rates, chronic care treatments, and increased hospital stays. Additionally, not meeting the standards set by national health organizations and policies can damage a healthcare organization’s reputation, potentially leading to the loss of accreditations or sanctions. Healthcare professionals may experience increased patient loads due to poor diabetes control, resulting in burnout and higher turnover rates (Kontoangelos et al., 2022).

The analysis is based on the assumptions that prescribed benchmarks for diabetes have a significant clinical impact on patients by improving glycemic levels and reducing diabetes-associated diseases. It also assumes that healthcare organizations must have adequate resources, including staff, protocols, guidelines, and technology, to meet the prescribed standards of diabetes care.

The Underperformance of the Benchmark

Several benchmarks estimate diabetes care, with HgbA1c being the most crucial as it measures patients’ blood glycemic levels. The HgbA1c benchmark serves as a diagnostic guideline for healthcare professionals to identify and diagnose diabetes in patients, enabling them to plan appropriate care. Unmonitored HgbA1c levels in diabetes patients can lead to severe health issues, such as neuropathy, kidney failure, retinopathy, and cardiovascular diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), diabetes caused 1.5 million deaths, with 48% occurring before patients reached the age of 70 (World Health Organization, 2023).

A study indicates that strict adherence to the HgbA1c benchmark can reduce retinopathy by 67%, diabetic nephropathy by 54%, cardiovascular disease risk by 35%, and peripheral neuropathy by 60% (Kaiafa et al., 2020). Poor performance on this benchmark affects many patients by preventing timely diabetes diagnosis, leading to uncontrolled glycemic levels and resulting in poor health outcomes and diabetes-related diseases. Patients may face lower extremity amputations and frequent insulin administration, diminishing their quality of life and safety (Déruaz-Luyet et al., 2020).

This situation presents a compelling opportunity for healthcare organizations to improve their performance in meeting this benchmark, as it significantly impacts their overall performance. Failing to meet this benchmark leads to higher hospital readmission rates, affecting organizational functionality, increasing financial costs, and causing staff burnout due to patient overload. Enhancing professional performance by meeting this benchmark can improve care quality and reduce diabetes complications, leading to better health outcomes.

Ethical and Sustainable Actions for the Underperformance of Benchmark

To address the underperformance of the crucial HgbA1c benchmark for diabetes care, it is vital to implement ethical and sustainable actions targeting an appropriate group of health professionals. The ethical principles guiding care treatment include patient autonomy, beneficence, justice, and non-maleficence. At Mercy Medical Center (MMC), primary care physicians, nurses, dieticians, and pharmacists are essential stakeholders who must undertake ethical and sustainable steps to enhance HgbA1c benchmark performance.

Ethical Principles

Emphasizing the ethical principles of autonomy and beneficence, healthcare professionals should provide patient-centered care to diabetes patients. When patients visit the clinical care setting, stakeholders should guide them on performing the HgbA1c test to manage diabetes and create appropriate care plans. Ensuring equitable access to diabetes care for all patients, free from biases related to racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic status, is crucial. Practicing non-maleficence by avoiding harm to patients while striving to achieve optimal glycemic levels and reducing the risk of hypoglycemia is also essential. Additionally, educating patients about the long-term benefits of HgbA1c testing and glycemic management, as prescribed by the established benchmark, will enhance their understanding and compliance (Rusdiana et al., 2020).

Sustainable Actions

Collaborating with policymakers to develop and implement policies promoting equitable access to diabetes care, from early diagnosis to long-term management, ensures sustainable diabetes care. Adopting a patient-centered and holistic approach to diabetes care can reduce hospital readmissions and long-term complications, improving hospital efficiency and the sustainability of healthcare resources. Early diagnostic testing of HgbA1c levels helps prevent diabetes-related complications, focusing on overall community health and aligning with sustainability efforts (Boye et al., 2022).

By adhering to the ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, justice, and non-maleficence, the healthcare team can increase patient participation in assessing their HgbA1c levels and promote effective diabetes management through comprehensive care planning and equitable access to care. Providing patient-centered care that aligns with patients’ needs and preferences can improve long-term outcomes and safety, enhancing the hospital’s reputation and revenue. Implementing these ethical and sustainable actions will not only help meet the HgbA1c benchmark but also foster a healthcare environment that prioritizes patient well-being and community health, ultimately contributing to the overall success and sustainability of the healthcare organization.

Conclusion

Mercy Medical Center does not meet certain national benchmarks for diabetes care, including eye exams, foot exams, and HgbA1c testing. Failing to achieve these standards results in various health consequences, such as an increase in diabetes-related diseases and decreased patient safety. Additionally, the HgbA1c benchmark is crucial for the early detection of diabetes in patients, and its underperformance necessitates comprehensive efforts to enhance its implementation.

References

AHRQ. (n.d.). NHQDR data tools – national healthcare quality and disparities reports (NHQDR). https://datatools.ahrq.gov/nhqdr/

Boye, K. S., Thieu, V. T., Lage, M. J., Miller, H., & Paczkowski, R. (2022). The association between sustained hba1c control and long-term complications among individuals with type 2 diabetes: A retrospective study. Advances in Therapy, 39(5), 2208–2221. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-022-02106-4

Déruaz‐Luyet, A., Raabe, C., Garry, E. M., Brodovicz, K. G., & Lavery, L. A. (2020). Incidence of lower extremity amputations among patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes in the united states from 2010 to 2014. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.14012

Kaiafa, G., Veneti, S., Polychronopoulos, G., Pilalas, D., Daios, S., Kanellos, I., Didangelos, T., Pagoni, S., & Savopoulos, C. (2020). Is hba1c an ideal biomarker of well-controlled diabetes? Postgraduate Medical Journal, 97(1148). https://doi.org/10.1136/postgradmedj-2020-138756

Kontoangelos, K., Raptis, A., Lambadiari, V., Economou, M., Tsiori, S., Katsi, V., Papageorgiou, C., Martinaki, S., Dimitriadis, G., & Papageorgiou, C. (2022). Burnout related to diabetes mellitus: A critical analysis. Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.2174/17450179-v18-e2209010