TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of practicing internal benchmarking on continuous improvement of cataract surgery outcomes
T2 - a retrospective observational study at Aravind Eye Hospitals, India
AU - Balu, Ganesh-Babu Subburaman
AU - Gupta, Sachin
AU - Ravilla, Ravindran D.
AU - Ravilla, Thulasiraj D.
AU - Mertens, Helen
AU - Webers, Carroll
AU - Vasudeva Rao, Shyam
AU - van Merode, Frits
PY - 2023/6/1
Y1 - 2023/6/1
N2 - ObjectiveWe aim to assess the effectiveness of a cataract surgery outcome monitoring tool used for continuous quality improvement. The objectives are to study: (1) the quality parameters, (2) the monitoring process followed and (3) the impact on outcomes. Design and proceduresIn this retrospective observational study we evaluated a quality improvement (QI) method which has been practiced at the focal institution since 2012: internal benchmarking of cataract surgery outcomes (CATQA). We evaluated quality parameters, procedures followed and clinical outcomes. We created tables and line charts to examine trends in key outcomes. SettingAravind Eye Care System, India. ParticipantsPhacoemulsification surgeries performed on 718 120 eyes at 10 centres (five tertiary and five secondary eye centres) from 2012 to 2020 were included. InterventionsAn internal benchmarking of surgery outcome parameters, to assess variations among the hospitals and compare with the best hospital. Outcome measuresIntraoperative complications, unaided visual acuity (VA) at postoperative follow-up visit and residual postoperative refractive error (within & PLUSMN;0.5D). ResultsOver the study period the intraoperative complication rate decreased from 1.2% to 0.6%, surgeries with uncorrected VA of 6/12 or better increased from 80.8% to 89.8%, and surgeries with postoperative refractive error within & PLUSMN;0.5D increased from 76.3% to 87.3%. Variability in outcome measures across hospitals declined. Additionally, benchmarking was associated with improvements in facilities, protocols and processes. ConclusionInternal benchmarking was found to be an effective QI method that enabled the practice of evidence-based management and allowed for harnessing the available information. Continuous improvement in clinical outcomes requires systematic and regular review of results, identifying gaps between hospitals, comparisons with the best hospital and implementing lessons learnt from peers.
AB - ObjectiveWe aim to assess the effectiveness of a cataract surgery outcome monitoring tool used for continuous quality improvement. The objectives are to study: (1) the quality parameters, (2) the monitoring process followed and (3) the impact on outcomes. Design and proceduresIn this retrospective observational study we evaluated a quality improvement (QI) method which has been practiced at the focal institution since 2012: internal benchmarking of cataract surgery outcomes (CATQA). We evaluated quality parameters, procedures followed and clinical outcomes. We created tables and line charts to examine trends in key outcomes. SettingAravind Eye Care System, India. ParticipantsPhacoemulsification surgeries performed on 718 120 eyes at 10 centres (five tertiary and five secondary eye centres) from 2012 to 2020 were included. InterventionsAn internal benchmarking of surgery outcome parameters, to assess variations among the hospitals and compare with the best hospital. Outcome measuresIntraoperative complications, unaided visual acuity (VA) at postoperative follow-up visit and residual postoperative refractive error (within & PLUSMN;0.5D). ResultsOver the study period the intraoperative complication rate decreased from 1.2% to 0.6%, surgeries with uncorrected VA of 6/12 or better increased from 80.8% to 89.8%, and surgeries with postoperative refractive error within & PLUSMN;0.5D increased from 76.3% to 87.3%. Variability in outcome measures across hospitals declined. Additionally, benchmarking was associated with improvements in facilities, protocols and processes. ConclusionInternal benchmarking was found to be an effective QI method that enabled the practice of evidence-based management and allowed for harnessing the available information. Continuous improvement in clinical outcomes requires systematic and regular review of results, identifying gaps between hospitals, comparisons with the best hospital and implementing lessons learnt from peers.
KW - ophthalmology
KW - cataract and refractive surgery
KW - quality in health care
KW - UNDERSTANDING SUCCESS
KW - CARE
KW - MULTICENTER
KW - INDICATORS
KW - SERVICES
KW - MODEL
U2 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-071860
DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-071860
M3 - Article
C2 - 37349104
SN - 2044-6055
VL - 13
JO - BMJ Open
JF - BMJ Open
IS - 6
M1 - e071860
ER -