Benchmarking: measuring the outcomes of evidence-based practice.
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.
DeLise
D C
DC
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. delise.donna@med.va.gov
Leasure
A R
AR
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