Waiting list statistics as performance indicators: Observations on their use in hospital management

Abstract

Improvements in data collection and the types of statistics collected have enhancedthe usefulness of waiting list statistics as a measure of hospital performance. But thesechanges are not sufficient for waiting list statistics to be used effectively formanagement purposes. The statistics need to be viewed alongside activity data ifclinicians and managers are to identify specific areas that need improvement. Thismeans that how the data are analysed and presented is also important.During a study into the management of waiting lists, we observed that waiting listdata were typically presented in a way that made interpretation difficult. A simplebut effective solution was found by using available PC-based software, but obstaclesremain. These stem from limitations of current information systems and the awarenessamong staff of the potential of common software packages.