02:39 pm, 17 Jan 2022
Hospital CEO’s globally, understand the need for, and value of, data-driven decisions. However, managing Hospital operations through a Pandemic, and, initiating analytics strategies may be complicated. How do you ensure success?
We have referenced an article by Beth Stackpole and MIT-Sloan dated September 22nd, 2020 as well as the views therein of Prashanth Southekal of the DBP-Institute (Data for Business Performance). We have added a Analytics in Hospitals perspective.
PRIORITISE DATA FOR ANALYTICS RELEVANT TO OPERATIONS OF HOSPITALS
These include data on Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI’s), hand-hygiene compliance by Nurses, patient falls, handover communications, safe-surgery practices etc. Hospital CEO’s should be working hard to develop data management systems that generate insight to drive leadership and governance, quality of care, patient safety and the business.
MOVE INTO ANALYTICS SLOWLY – BUT MOVE TODAY!
Hospital CEO’s are waiting for the right data management systems to begin analytics initiatives. Wrong! There are simple processes and existing tools that enable data-driven decisions. Start small, but start today. Consider these steps:
– Classify and Prioritise data to focus on e.g. Clinical and Non-Clinical / Patient Related and Non-Patient Related;
– Design a Data Governance structure for your Hospital. Data is the responsibility of ALL personnel (Data-Culture) not just your Risk & Quality Department;
– Create a Data Management Team to agree on analysis, tools and how insight will modify the skills of your personnel, departmental policies and operating processes;
– Action is Key – insight will drive your Hospital standards and eventually, the business. Each Quarter, Track and Measure the impact on costs, wastage, efficiencies, productivity and financials.
LEAD THROUGH INNOVATION! USE NEW ANALYTICS TOOLS
HIS Systems and BI Tools have been around for years but ROI’s are doubtful. With the advent of 5G, Cloud Computing and Digital Platforms – now is the time to adopt digital Analytics and SaaS tools.
Hospitals may move into AI and Machine Learning but only with the right culture, skills and tools. CEO’s must understand, this will be a gradual and deliberate process over the next few years. The following steps may act as a guide:
1. Identify key personnel to engage with and discuss KPI’s for data management including doctors, nurses and non-clinicians.
2. Build Data Management Teams for performance measures e.g. Patient Identification or HAI’s. Such Teams must have a new mindset and be comfortable with asking “what if” questions.
3. Data Literacy will be the norm. Explain clearly what it means to your personnel i.e. to read, understand, create and communicate data and insight. Reinforce this repeatedly.
4. Regulatory and operational compliance is non-negotiable. Always keep one eye on your accreditation requirements and regulatory compliance. Analytics will help you find those weak-spots.
5. Continuously refine your Analytics models to improve insight.
6. Governance of Analytics is the responsibility of CEO’s! Data collection, validation, analysis and visualisation must be easy for doctors, nurses and non-clinical staff.
7. Stories motivate insight. Share stories to encourage insight for better focus, discipline and performance.
Finally, all analytics strategies in Hospitals must result in data-driven decision making (D3M) with impact measurement. Analytics success in Hospitals is certainly not easy, but well worth the effort!