Step #5 Impledment Process Improvements
Implement ongoing monitoring and process improvement tools
One of the most consistent problems with the benchmarking process is a failure by both administration and physicians to implement an ongoing quality improvement process as a logical continuation of the operational benchmarking within a residency program. If a program is fortunate enough to make changes that enhance the program through the benchmarking process, the operational, educational and financial benefits will likely be short lived if ongoing monitoring and measurement is not put into place to sustain changes. Further, new opportunities for improvement may still exist in less visible areas and impacts of a teaching program such as understanding and utilizing the proper billing codes for the variety of inpatient care that can be provided.