Benchmarking: From a clinical engineering perspective, it may be one of the biggest issues in 2010. Here are the top 10 indicators I use to quickly determine the quality of a biomedical operation. You can calculate numbers and ratios that help drill down to specific causes; however, in the end, several key indicators exist. In fact, after only 10 minutes of conversing with a department manager, I can fairly accurately estimate the quality and vitality of a program. This is my list, but I encourage you to also share your top indicators.