Benchmarking
OECI started a benchmark project to offer centres the opportunity to monitor and evaluate the quality of key governance, management, clinical and support functions that influence patient outcomes.
Background
In spring 2022, the OECI A&D Programme introduced a benchmarking project aimed at advancing quality standards across cancer centres in Europe. By establishing a framework for regular evaluation of governance, management, clinical, and support services, this initiative enables centres to compare their performance and ultimately enhance patient outcomes.
Aim
The primary goal of the benchmarking project is the collection of 18 key indicators. These indicators cover critical organisational, quality, treatment, and research aspects that directly impact patient care.
Through this data, centres gain insights into their performance relative to other centres in Europe, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and process optimisation.
Benchmark Pilot and Methodology
The initial benchmark pilot involved eight cancer centres — five OECI Comprehensive Cancer Centres and three OECI Cancer Centres —selected to anonymously contribute data across these indicators.
This pilot enabled centres to compare aspects such as patient volumes, staffing resources, treatment timelines, and research activity.
The indicators were assessed through an OECI e-tool questionnaire, designed to align with the A&D Programme’s standards and support a seamless data collection experience.
Indicators assessed
The pilot focused on a comprehensive set of metrics, including:
- Organisational Indicators: Patient numbers, expenditures, clinical staffing, and available treatment resources.
- Quality Indicators: Timeliness from patient contact to treatment initiation.
- Treatment Indicators: Annual surgical procedures, chemotherapy visits, and radiotherapy sessions.
- Research Indicators: Clinical trials activity, scientific publications, and high-impact research output.
Future Steps
In the future, data collection and the use of data, such as for benchmarking purposes, will be integrated into the A&D Programme.