Benchmarking Regional Health Management (BEN)

Interregional comparative and evaluative studies of health management systems in Europe are needed to assess the effectiveness of programmes and activities. The project “Benchmarking Regional Health Management II” (Ben RHM II) follows this path.

In Ben RHM II, the health management systems of 19 European regions were compared with regard to their structures, processes, policies and health outcomes. The benchmarking process served to identify points where structures and methods for reaching the envisaged targets could be improved.

“Organigraphs” were developed as a new approach to charting how organisations work. An “organigraph” is intended to map processes in order to understand critical interactions, what relationships exist, how information spreads through the organisation and so demonstrate how the organisation – or the regional health management respectively – works.

All 19 of the participating regions submitted “organigraphs” for measles. Programme descriptions were received from 16 regions. Whilst the “organigraphs” can give an overview of the health management system, the programme descriptions can give a number of more detailed insights into the system. The “organigraphs” and programme descriptions reflect very well the complexity of the health management system that can involve so many different organizations and actors at the different levels, national, regional and local.

“Organigraphs” for breast cancer were received from 17 of the 19 regions. Programme descriptions were received from 15 regions. “Organigraphs” for diabetes were received from 17 of the 19 regions. Programme descriptions were received from 15 regions.

To conclude, with the help of the developed methodology we could identify first good practices and have received many hints how the health management in the participating regions could be improved. For a deeper insight into European health management systems, benchmarking studies should be encouraged. Benchmarking processes among regions should also be stimulated using further tracers to identify where health managements could be improved.