What process involves comparing the postoperative infection rates of a hospital to similar hospitals in the same region?

Benchmarking is the process of comparing performance metrics, such as postoperative infection rates, against those of similar organizations or hospitals in the same region. This practice involves identifying best practices and performance standards set by peer institutions, enabling a healthcare facility to assess its performance relative to others. By understanding where it stands in comparison to its peers, a hospital can identify areas for improvement and implement strategies to enhance patient care and safety.

In contrast, quality assurance typically involves systematic evaluations of services and outcomes within a single organization to maintain a desired level of quality, rather than comparing with other organizations. Assessment refers to the process of evaluating certain aspects of healthcare practices or outcomes, but it does not inherently involve comparative analysis with other facilities. Analysis is a broader term that can refer to various investigative processes in healthcare data but does not specifically denote the comparative aspect that benchmarking embodies.