Leveraging performance measurement and management: the quality and efficiency edge

The University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) is a mission-based, member driven alliance of academic health centers. UHC's objectives are to pool resources, create economies of scale, improve clinical and operating efficiencies, and influence the direction and delivery of health care. To assist our members in developing these strategies, UHC conducted concurrent clinical and operational cardiology benchmarking projects. The goals of the cardiology-benchmarking project were to: Identify successful organizational structures and operational processes used by members to provide cardiology service. Identify methods to maximize productivity, and manage supply and equipment costs. Share methods of measuring and reporting outcomes (report cards, databases).