Balance Scorecards and Dashboards - Essay Example

Analyze the metrics used in the balanced scorecard and dashboard and how they influence organizations and nursing practice.

Chan et al devised a balanced scoreboard comprising metrics to quantify health worker training, facility resources, community satisfaction, and outreach and service provisions. Once the scorecard was implemented, it became easier to figure out the weaknesses and ways to amend them. The analysis of scorecards led to myriad initiatives such as training on disposal of used needles and thermometers, setting up drug inventories, health promotion fairs and talks, and child health programs.  (Chan, 2010)

Evaluate whether goals at your organization are established for these metrics and whether or not they are currently being met.

In the light of the above research, it becomes imperative for every health care institution to adopt these practices and constantly evaluate its services. 

California Correctional Healthcare services are one of the institutions that have applied these quality metrics and provided quality health care to around 170,000 prisoners in 33 prisons (CDCR, 2012). By devising a whole array of dashboards measuring various factors in quality, they have attained a gold standard in providing quality health services.

Explain the external standard against which these metrics are being compared. Has that information entered into the goal-setting process?

Apart from taking such wise initiatives, comparison of health care services in these prisons has been undertaken systematically using numerous metrics (Frith, et al., 2010).  However, evaluation at a competitive basis with an external institution has been conducted yet. Nonetheless, an evaluation checked by Inspector General Robert, A. Brown scored 88.5% on basis of quality and excellence. (the State Of California, 2012)

Describe some of the provocative issues that have or will emerge.

Fortunately, no conflicts have been faced until now. Considering the level of quality imposed by the metrics used in dashboards and scorecards, there seems little chance of such situations to occur.