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Use our service line benchmark grids to assess your service line’s program development across a variety of attributes. See grids for cancer, cardiovascular, neurosciences, obstetrics and gynecology, and orthopedics service lines.
Table of contents
How to use these grids
Use these benchmark grids to assess your service line’s position and to identify opportunities to advance your program to the next level.
Pyramid of development attributes
How to think about maturity levels
The levels of maturity within the grids are not independent; they build on each other. Intermediate programs have the features of a foundational program in addition to the features of an intermediate program, and advanced programs have the features of all three.
National differentiators are the features that would place a program within the top 1% at the national scale. These features might be related to cutting-edge technology, groundbreaking research, or specialized programs for rare or complex conditions. See the individual development grids below for service line-specific differentiators.
Program maturity archetypes
It isn’t necessary — or advisable — for every service line to strive for the top tiers. The appropriate level of maturity depends on a combination of community needs as well as health system capacity and goals.
Foundational programs
These programs provide essential healthcare services and resources within their service lines, typically focusing on prevention and management of common conditions. Service lines at community hospitals often align with foundational programs based on the needs of the population they serve and the resources at their disposal.
Intermediate programs
In addition to the defining features of foundational programs, intermediate programs offer a broader range of services, including advanced specialty care. They have more developed facilities and often serve larger communities. Regional hospitals commonly support intermediate service lines.
Advanced programs
Advanced programs provide comprehensive care, including services for a range of subspecialties. They are typically involved in research and education, and they have a strong focus on patient care and innovation. Service lines at academic medical centers often fall into this category, as do teaching hospitals, advanced research centers, and specialized institutes.
National differentiators
National differentiators make up the top 1% of programs nationwide. These programs are categorized by cutting-edge research, innovative treatments, and unmatched quality of care for complex and rare conditions.
Descriptions of service line features
Leadership and infrastructure describes the service line leadership structure, including administrative and clinical leaders.
Workforce includes specialists and subspecialists, ancillary (nonphysician) clinical staff, and support staff.
Accreditations and affiliations includes certifications or meeting the criteria for them, centers of excellence designations, adherence to nationally recognized protocols and guidelines, and formal partnerships/affiliations.
Preventive and treatment services includes:
- Services related to secondary prevention, such as risk assessments and screenings; diagnostic services refers to tests performed to confirm or eliminate a potential result
- Medical and surgical capabilities to treat injuries and conditions
- Opportunities to participate in clinical trials or other research
Care coordination and support services includes:
- Care navigation and support services for patients and families
- Infrastructure for care coordination across disciplines and facilities, including transfer protocols and synchronized electronic health records
- Integrated preventive care, treatments, rehabilitation, and condition management care models
Technology includes:
- Equitable digital access points, including online scheduling and virtual care
- Therapeutic and diagnostic devices
- Surgical and imaging equipment
- Other digital health and remote patient monitoring (RPM) capabilities
Facilities refers to the physical presence and arrangement of structures available for care, including:
- Dedicated clinic or surgical space
- Sites of care, including ambulatory surgery centers and other outpatient facilities
- Collocated services
- Home health services
View the benchmark grids
Posted on May 19, 2025
Updated on May 19, 2025
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