According to the cover story announcing the 16th annual Hospitals & Health Networks’ Most Wired list, hospitals that top the list employ a strategy around second-curve metrics to align health systems, physicians, clinical and nonclinical people across the continuum of care. Wired hospitals have effectively deployed a variety of foundational technologies and now have their eyes on data analytics and population health management.
Among Most Wired hospitals, 61% use predictive modeling and data to improve decision-making across multiple departments and 36% conduct controlled experiments or scenario planning to make better management decisions and for forecasting. And these characteristics are on the rise. On the population health front, 69% of Most Wired hospitals conduct a retrospective analysis of clinical and administrative data to identify areas for improving quality of care and reducing costs.
As hospitals move toward accountable care and other value-based models, strategic and tactical discussions should be collaborative. IT may be driving many of these initiatives, but all departments should be involved to determine what supports workflow and improved efficiencies.
As Steve Hess, CIO, University of Colorado Health (another Top Wired Hospital) noted, “Data collected should be relevant and useful. We need to find ways to collect all of that data, but eliminate the ‘noise’ to enable our clinicians and staff to efficiently and effectively make the right decisions.”
I agree with Steve about the need for substantive data. Using the right data to create solutions, that’s the answer to being wired and impactful.