Welcome from Michelle Volesko, Benchmarking Chapter Educator

Dear members of NY-NJ Chapter of the Medical Library Association:

I'd like to say hello and introduce myself as your NY-NJ Chapter's Benchmarking Chapter Educator. My contact information is at the bottom of this message. You are invited to call or email me directly or via the Chapter listserv with any questions you have about the MLA Benchmarking Initiative. My role as described by MLA is to "serve as the Chapter's authority on participation in the MLA Benchmarking Initiative. The BCE will proactively communicate with all Chapter members and with BCEs from other Chapters."

Well, I'll try! If I can't answer the question right away, I have lots of experts on the MLA Task Force to call upon as well.

1. Calling all Hospital Librarians! The MLA Benchmarking Initiative Needs You!

The MLA Benchmarking Initiative is a database "under construction" that will offer hospital libraries the opportunity to learn more about the benchmarking process, compare data, establish best practices, and identify and work with a benchmarking partner. Currently, the database is in the beta-testing phase. Institutional members of MLA are asked to submit their data so that the tool can be tested for validity, ease of use and functionality. This phase is only a test and we need 100 participants! Once the beta test phase and evaluation has been completed, the official launch of the Benchmarking Network will be announced, hopefully before the end of the year.

Once operational, the Benchmarking Network will provide a means of entering data related to your institution, resources, and services. It will be possible for you to compare your data to other institutions of your choosing or with a profile selected by you.

To learn more about the Benchmarking Network and to input your data into the beta test database, sign on to the members-only site of MLA http://www.mlanet.org and follow the Benchmarking links. OR, Go directly to: http://www.mlanet.org/members/benchmark/index.html and log in...

You will need that MLA ID# and password. It is on a little card MLA mailed you when you started/renewed your membership. Your online user name is the MLA ID# and your MLANET password is also on this card. The password has 3 INITIAL CAPITAL LETTERS. If you are like me, you might have a capital 'I' in there, think it is the number 1 and get very frustrated. Don't give up. Call MLA if you lost your card etc. or are having problems logging on, 312-419-9094.

WE REALLY NEED YOUR DATA SUBMISSIONS FOR THE BETA TEST! The purpose of the beta test is to enter data that will help the Benchmarking Task Force refine the data instruments and develop the reporting features. As of July 20, MLA advised we have 10 real data submissions. Thus, we need your help very much. To participate here's a Hint to make it easier: Print down that data worksheet first http://www.mlanet.org/members/benchmark/index.html and gather your numbers. Once you have gathered your data on the worksheet, then go online to input it into the database and please use the comments section if you feel some questions or vague or need additional information. Remember that this is only a test! The actual database will hopefully be available for your input later on this year.

To clarify, the beta test is open to MLA Institutional members and the full database will be accessible to ALL MLA members. If you can participate in the beta test, please drop me a line so I can get a pulse beat on who/how we are doing.

2. Haven't Heard of the MLA Benchmarking Initiative Until Now? - Learn More Quickly!

To learn more about MLA's Benchmarking Initiative and the value it will offer you I highly recommend taking a few moments to read the MLA web site benchmarking FAQ at: http://www.mlanet.org/members/benchmark/index.html This is the members only area of the web site so you will need your little membership card mailed to you by MLA.

For those of you who are not MLA members, this Benchmarking Project might be a good reason to consider joining. When data are ready for full database rollout in the Spring of 2001 you can use it to help justify or negotiate with administrators for budget and staff. Comparative data can help you know if you are far ahead of the curve or need to play catch up. You can compare against not only a hospital but a system, teaching hospital etc.

Learning Links:

The Benchmarking Data Worksheets

Data definitions

Benchmarking Database Rollout Plan

MLA News - April 2000. Article by Bernie Todd Smith, AHIP, Chair, MLA Benchmarking Task Force. "Benchmarking Initiative."

MLA-FOCUS - April 26, 2000 "MLA Launches Benchmarking Network Beta Site"

3. What Other Information Do You Need?
Please tell me what other information you need and I can post to the Chapter listserv or plan further.....
4. A Little About Your BCE:

Thus far, I attended a brief BCE training session at the MLA Annual Meeting in Vancouver in May. I also took the MLA CE course: "Benchmarking in a High-Tech Competitive Environment." by Annette Gohlke, Library Benchmarking International and several MLA JCAHO, CQI and Statistics courses.

As many of you may know, my employer, NJHA is heavily involved with financial and clinical benchmarking for NJ hospitals. I try to stay well-versed in the benchmarking and outcomes assessment fields.

Sincerely,

Michelle M. Volesko
NY-NJ Chapter Benchmarking Educator

Contact Information:
Work email: mvolesko@njha.com | Home email: m.volesko@worldnet.att.net
Work Voice: 609-275-4230 | Work Fax: 609-275-4107
Director, Library & Corp. Info. Svcs.
New Jersey Hospital Association
760 Alexander Road; P.O. Box 1
Princeton, N.J. 08543-0001