Publicly reported health performance measures 2010-2020

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Health Services Research
• Performance Measurement

Background:

• Performance measurement is a critical component of effective healthcare management globally.
• Evaluating the quality and utility of performance measurement systems is essential for healthcare improvement.
• This study focuses on a New Zealand healthcare organisation's performance measurement practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess whether performance measurement in a New Zealand healthcare organisation aligns with established literature criteria.
• To identify the strengths and weaknesses of the organisation's performance measurement system over an 11-year period.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of performance expectations from statements of intent and annual plans spanning 11 years.
• Evaluation of 731 distinct performance measurements for continuity, accuracy, effectiveness, patient-centeredness, and clinical relevance.
• Examination of published reports for evidence of data verification, statistical significance, action linkage, and benchmarking.

Main Results:

• A total of 731 unique performance measurements were identified; 48% were measured only once.
• Only 21.9% of comparable measures met at least one expected target or range.
• Published reports demonstrated limited use of data verification, significance testing, action linkage, benchmarking, or patient prioritization.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare organisations face difficulties in implementing effective performance measurement.
• Challenges may stem from inappropriate measure selection, inadequate targets, incomplete analysis, or poor linkage to actionable insights.
• Improving performance measurement requires addressing these systemic issues for better healthcare outcomes.