What type of data should a local hospital use to justify bringing in an internal consultant?

Bringing in an internal consultant to a local hospital is often based on the necessity to enhance quality and efficiency in care delivery. The most effective data for justifying such a decision would include benchmarking of quality and process of care. This type of benchmarking allows the hospital to compare its quality of care and operational processes against best practices or standards in the industry.

By focusing on quality metrics, the hospital can identify specific areas where improvements are needed. This data could include indicators such as patient outcomes, readmission rates, and adherence to clinical guidelines. When these metrics show that the hospital lags behind peers or industry standards, it provides a compelling argument for the need for internal consultation and improvement initiatives. Essentially, using quality and process of care benchmarking aligns the consultant's objectives with the hospital's mission to provide high-quality patient care.

Utilizing other types of data, such as operational or financial metrics, while they have their importance, may not directly emphasize the critical aspect of patient care that is ultimately the hospital's primary goal. Thus, focusing specifically on quality and care processes through benchmarking is the most strategic choice for justifying the need for an internal consultant.