title: Benchmarking: measuring the outcomes of evidence-based practice.
abstract: Measurement of the outcomes associated with implementation of evidence-based practice changes is becoming increasingly emphasized by multiple health care disciplines. A final step to the process of implementing and sustaining evidence-supported practice changes is that of outcomes evaluation and monitoring. The comparison of outcomes to internal and external measures is known as benchmarking. This article discusses evidence-based practice, provides an overview of outcomes evaluation, and describes the process of benchmarking to improve practice. A case study is used to illustrate this concept.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. delise.donna@med.va.gov
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: DeLise
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Leasure
mesh_terms: D019985:Benchmarking / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D015399:Nursing Research; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017749:Total Quality Management