title: [Current provision of cardiac rehabilitation intervention in the Lombardy Region, Italy: a benchmark study].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Benchmarking is a process of comparison between the performance characteristics of separate, often competing organizations, intended to enable each participant to improve its own performance in the marketplace. Benchmarking could be translated to the health system from the management field, in order to improve quality and health outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  This benchmarking study focused on structural and process aspects regarding the current delivery of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) interventions in the Lombardy Region. Data for analysis were derived from the ISYDE-2008 (Italian Survey on Cardiac Rehabilitation) project of the Italian Association for Cardiovascular Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Epidemiology. Thirty-eight CR units accepted to provide open information about types of supply of CR interventions, organization, location, number of active beds, personnel, duty services, expectancy days before admission, and complexity of patient populations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As a major finding, in-hospital programs actually represent the largest part of CR interventions delivered in the Lombardy Region, generally in well-defined cardiovascular departments, and patients are mostly referred in the short period after a major cardiovascular event.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This model could help healthcare organizations to understand where they have strengths and weaknesses depending upon changes in supply, demand and market conditions.
authors.affiliation: U.O. di Cardiologia e Angiologia Riabilitativa, Clinica Le Terrazze, Cunardo (VA). m.ambrosetti@clinicaleterrazze.com
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ambrosetti
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Porazzi
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Diaco
authors.forename: Oreste
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Febo
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tramarin
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Malinverni
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zaniboni
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Passera
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marchetti
mesh_terms: D019985:Benchmarking / Q000592:standards*; D002309:Cardiology / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*