Best Practices Focus Group Grading Criteria

Grading scale: A = best. F = worst.

Cost: The impact the "enabler" has on department and/or hospital economics. Note: "Sus-tainable payback" means that cost savings or additional income will exceed the expense (equipment, supplies, personnel, space) not just at implementation but throughout the foreseeable future.

A Sustainable payback within the first 90 days after implementing.

B Sustainable payback will take 91 days to six months.

C Sustainable payback will take 6 months to one year.

D Sustainable payback will take between one and three years.

F Sustainable payback will take more than three years or may not occur.

Quality: The impact the enabler has on meeting or exceeding customer requirements.

A Significantly increases customer satisfaction, patient outcomes, and/or accuracy.

B Increases customer satisfaction ONLY.

C Neither increases nor decreases customer satisfaction, patient outcomes or accuracy.

D Decreases customer satisfaction ONLY.

F Decreases patient outcomes or accuracy.

Speed: The impact the enabler has on the elapsed time of the process.

A Reduces process elapsed time by 85% or greater.

B Reduces process elapsed time by 10% to 85%.

C Has no impact on process elapsed time.

D Increases process elapsed time by up to 10%.

F Increases process elapsed time by 10% or greater.

Overall: The probably impact of the enabler on overall improvement of the process.

A This enabler is worthwhile, has a high probability of success, and is basically a "DO NOW" idea.

B This enabler is worthwhile, but it may encounter resistance; however, it is still worth implementing.

C This enabler is worthwhile, but the benefits don’t outweigh the burdens.

D This enabler may be a "disenabler," and one should consider discontinuing it.

F This enabler IS a disenabler stop doing it NOW!