Developing key laboratory performance indicators: a feasibility study. Potential roles for CLMA.

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Laboratory Medicine
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Laboratory management faces challenges from cost control, managed care, and health system integration.
• Rapidly evolving healthcare markets necessitate new measures for assessing laboratory information management.
• Existing laboratory performance data systems require review and enhancement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the feasibility of a system for collecting, analyzing, and reporting nationally standardized laboratory performance indicators.
• To meet the needs of diverse stakeholders including health system executives, managed care plans, and external agencies.
• To inform laboratory service providers on effective performance assessment.

Main Methods:

• Conducted extensive interviews across the healthcare industry.
• Performed a literature search of relevant journals, newspapers, and marketing materials.
• Investigated the current status of comparative performance assessment in healthcare.

Main Results:

• Key indicators must align with laboratory customer priorities and be compatible with broader healthcare performance criteria.
• Inclusive consensus development is crucial for indicator acceptance.
• Standardized definitions and data collection are vital for data comparability and credibility.

Conclusions:

• A system for standardized laboratory performance indicators is feasible.
• Indicators must be reliable, valid, easy to implement, and demonstrably linked to patient care outcomes.
• Effective peer grouping is necessary for meaningful interlaboratory comparisons.