BENCHMARKING
Presented by: Beth B. Risinger
CEO/Executive Director
Packer Valley Chapter
Whirlwind Educational
Conference & Tradeshow
Benchmarking Can Be Exciting!
During this comprehensive seminar on
Benchmarking, each attendee will learn how to
develop a plan, collect the appropriate data,
analyze the data and finally, adapt and
implement the entire process. You will leave this
seminar with a great deal of knowledge while
feeling energized and ready to evaluate
competitive facilities.
Benchmarking
Definition
Benchmark: 1. A surveyor’s mark…that has a
known position and altitude: benchmarks
are used as reference points in determining
other altitudes…2. A standard or point of
reference in measuring or judging quality,
value, etc.
-Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary
4 Steps of Benchmarking
1. The Plan
2. Collect Information
3. Analyze Information
4. Adapt and Implement
My Benchmarking Plan
Planning and collecting
stages should consume
½ of your benchmarking
time.
 Choose the function to
benchmark.
 Depict how you do the
function.

My Benchmarking Plan
Choose the
benchmarking team.
 Analyze the industry
 Evaluate organizations
to benchmark.

Collect Information
Use a common definition for the process.
 Do not implement all parts of the process.
 Look for common threads among facilities.
 Look for bright, refreshing new ideas for
implementation.
 Analyze the performance factors—those that
are significant.
 Assign numerical values to each
performance factor.

Analyze the Information
Measure the gap between you and your
competitor.
 Be objective; do not place blame for
performance difficulties.
 Plot the key performance factors.
 Gain buy-in from employees.
 Know the outcome you want to achieve.

Adapt and Implement
Go deeply into detail when reviewing staff’s
processes.
 Take variables into account.
 Prepare your Action Plan.
 Provide for continuous improvement.
 Test the improved system.
 Provide for yearly updates.

Benchmarking as a
Continuous Process
Reviewing processes
for improvement
Changes in
industry
environment
Process
Improvement
Raising the
standard
Organizations
for Benchmarking
Kaiser Associates
www.kaiserassociates.com
 Total Benchmarking Solutions
www.totalbenchmarksolutions.com
 The Delta Group
www.deltagroup.com
 Press Ganey
www.pressganey.com
 The Association for Benchmarking Healthcare
www.abhc.org

Organizations
for Benchmarking
Premier is another benchmarking service that
many hospitals participate in…usually your
finance officer (CFO) is the person handling
this area. Ask them to provide you with a list
of best practice hospitals. Premier will
usually give you a name and contact number
for peer/like members.
www.premierinc.com
Let’s review
Please close your
workbook
Test Questions
1. Benchmarking is:
A. Continuous Process
B. Done only once
C. Done every 10 years
2. When selecting a team go to:
A. Frontline Staff
B. Managers
C. All levels of the organization
3. Three Key Performance Factors are:
1. ________________________________________
2. ________________________________________
3. ________________________________________
Test Questions
4. To collect information; name two tools:
1. ________________________________________
2. ________________________________________
5. The key to benchmarking is to measure productivity.
A. True
B. False
6. When benchmarking, the team does not have to worry about
variables.
A. True
B. False
Test Questions
7. Once your benchmarking results are complete, what do you do
next?
1. Dance the “jig”
2. Implement them
3. Print them
8. Should you do the benchmarking process by yourself?
1. Yes
2. No
9. There are companies that do benchmarking. Name one.
1.______________________________________________
Performance Indicators
How many angels can
dance on the head of
a pin?
It depends.
Questions ??
Beth Risinger
can be contacted by email at
brisinger@ieha.org
or by phone at 1-800-200-6342 ext: 104
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