A mission-based reporting system applied to an academic pathology department

Area of Science:

• Academic Medicine
• Health Services Research
• Pathology Department Management

Background:

• Academic medical centers require robust systems to track faculty contributions across diverse missions.
• Understanding faculty workload distribution is crucial for strategic planning and resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate how mission-based reporting (MBR) data can define and evaluate faculty contributions within a Department of Pathology.
• To assess alignment of divisional contributions with departmental and institutional goals.
• To establish a framework for interdepartmental comparisons and strategic management.

Main Methods:

• Generated MBR summary reports for each division within the Department of Pathology.
• Analyzed average faculty contributions by rank, series, and mission (research, teaching, clinical service, administration/community service).
• Compared departmental and divisional contributions against school-wide averages.

Main Results:

• All divisions contributed equally to teaching (approx. 1/3 faculty time).
• Research was primary for Research and Clinical Pathology divisions; clinical service was primary for Anatomic Pathology.
• Department of Pathology showed higher average contributions in research and administration/community service compared to the school, but lower in teaching and clinical service.

Conclusions:

• MBR data generates unique departmental and divisional profiles, facilitating interdepartmental comparisons.
• The analysis confirmed the Department of Pathology's alignment with school leadership expectations.
• MBR data supports workforce monitoring, funds flow analysis, resource allocation, and strategic planning in academic medical centers.