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Promoting benchmarking in addiction treatment: three partners launch a national benchmarking initiative.

Article Excerpt
These are unprecedented times in the field of addiction services. State capitols around the country are dealing with deep holes in their budgets by making serious, often draconian, cuts to human services. Advocates find themselves reeducating policy makers on the dire consequences of untreated addictions. Yet instead of pushing for much-needed increases in budget lines, providers are holding their breath, hoping to be held harmless. At the same time, the federal parity law is opening doors of opportunity while infusing new challenges. The sometimes trite phrase "only the strong survive" suddenly has become very real. As with any business, providers focused on quality and efficiency will be the leaders of tomorrow's industry.

In this unforgiving economic environment, addiction treatment providers must exhibit optimal financial, operational, and clinical performances to survive and thrive. Benchmarking represents a powerful yet underutilized management tool that can assist leaders in achieving an efficient operation to help survive today's environment. Benchmarking can answer critical and daunting questions such as:

* How can our organization become more efficient?

* Where is the financial "bleeding" in our programs?

* What are the qualities of the most successful providers?

* How can we maintain of even improve the quality of care while reducing our expenses?

* How can we do "more" with "less"?

Without benchmarking, information available to addiction treatment leaders is of limited value. Consider how helpful a thermometer would be if it were not known that 98,6[degrees] is "normal." Similarly, critical performance indicators, such as financial expenditures, productivity levels, no-show rates,...

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