Benchmarking in healthcare is used for which of the following purposes?

Benchmarking in healthcare is primarily utilized to compare practices against global standards. This process involves evaluating an organization's performance metrics, processes, and outcomes against those of other leading organizations or established standards within the industry. By identifying gaps and areas for improvement, healthcare institutions can derive best practices and implement strategies that elevate the quality of care, enhance patient outcomes, and ensure compliance with regulatory and accreditation requirements.

In the context of healthcare, benchmarking provides essential insights that allow facilities to adopt superior operational practices, thus promoting a culture of continuous quality improvement. Such comparisons not only inform decision-making but also help to set performance goals that are aligned with best-in-class standards globally.

While other options touch on important aspects of healthcare management—like patient compliance and employee satisfaction—these are not the primary focus of benchmarking. Instead, benchmarking serves as a critical tool for assessing and striving for excellence through systematic evaluation against external benchmarks.