Step #1 Data Breakdown
Data is broken down and compared against individual benchmarks that can be
developed for each residency program
This step focuses on analyzing data from the residency program through a variety of algorithms and comparisons developed from experiences with hundreds of teaching programs in order to create standard comparison groups for the operational/educational activities of a residency program. These metrics become a framework through which the benchmarking process is built and allows comparisons to the same residency programs operated at other hospitals or within the same program over time.
The majority of a residency program’s clinical training activity is captured via professional fee billing by the faculty. Most of the resident time and energy as well as a significant component of faculty effort (typically 65% or higher) is focused on clinical training. By analyzing an extract of professional fee billing data of the faculty, over 60 different operational benchmarks can be established related to training quality, clinical productivity, operational impact, faculty effectiveness, resident educational experiences and revenue cycle performance. These metrics are developed and presented within the context of the important clinical training objectives of the residents.
Benchmarking variables that can be developed from the professional fee billing date range from complex revenue cycle metrics (such as coding profiles of residents and faculty in both inpatient and outpatient settings, documentation of procedural experiences (and identification of areas where these charges are lost), to productivity measures such as faculty leverage, inefficient clinic scheduling, and opportunities to balance clinical workload between faculty. These are just a small number of the many different benchmark measures that can be distilled from the billing data.