Towards a balanced performance measurement system in a public health care organization

Abstract

Purpose

This article attempts to devise an integrated performance measurement framework to assess the Hong Kong Hospital Authority (HA) management system by harnessing previous performance measurement systems.

Design/methodology/approach

An integrated evaluative framework based on the balanced score card (BSC) was developed and applied using the case study method and longitudinal data to evaluate the HA's performance management system.

Findings

The authors unveil evolving HA performance indicators (PI). Despite the HA staff's explicit quality emphasis, cost control remains the primary focus in their performance measurements.

Research limitations/implications

Data used in this study are from secondary sources, disclosed mostly by HA staff.

Practical implications

This study shows public sector staff often attach too much importance to cost control and easily measurable activities at the expense of quality and other less easily measurable attributes'.

Originality/value

A balanced performance measurement system, linked to health targets, with a complementary budgeting process that supports pertinent resource allocation is yet to be implemented in Hong Kong's public hospitals.

Citation

Yuen, P.P. and Ng, A.W. (2012), "Towards a balanced performance measurement system in a public health care organization", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 25 No. 5, pp. 421-430. https://doi.org/10.1108/09526861211235919