Benchmarking Australia's mental health services: is it possible and useful?
BACKGROUND
Benchmarking of performance indicators in the mental health field is gaining currency in Australia as a strategy for improving service quality.


OBJECTIVE
To engage mental health service providers in the collection and evaluation of performance data.


METHODS
Three separate rounds of data collection involving high secure, extended treatment, and medium secure services were carried out between 2003 and 2005. Twenty-five core indicators were identified and these were used to assess service inputs, processes, outputs and outcomes.


RESULTS
Differences in casemix, clinical practice and local business rules gave rise to variation in service performance. The benchmarking exercise led to the implementation of quality improvement initiatives.


CONCLUSIONS
It is possible and useful to collect and evaluate performance data for mental health services. While services appear similar enough to benchmark, information related to both casemix and service characteristics needs to be included in benchmarking data to understand the factors that produce differences in service performance.
Meehan
Tom J
TJ
Department of Psychiatry, The Park, Centre for Mental Health, Locked Bag 500, Richlands, Brisbane, QLD 4077, Australia. Thomas_Meehan@health.qld.gov.au
Stedman
Terry J
TJ
Neuendorf
Ken E
KE
Francisco
Irene D
ID
Neilson
Malcolm G
MG
D001315:Australia; D019985:Benchmarking / Q000379:methods*; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D009313:National Health Programs; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D017749:Total Quality Management