Hospitals are always trying to improve the way they do things. Not only do more efficient processes improve patient outcomes, but they also save money. Never forget that American healthcare is a for-profit industry, after all.
Technology has gone a long way toward changing how healthcare is experienced on both sides of the fence. However, there are hurdles to improving efficiency.
Staffing is certainly one of them. Price is another. In a world where healthcare is neither straightforward nor universally accessible, what systems can hospitals implement to improve things?
More to the point, how can they develop these processes in a way that is effective, sustainable, and cost-efficient?
The answer, perhaps unsurprisingly, is through data. Better information can be used to improve every stage of healthcare, from experiences with nurses to trips to the pharmacy.
In this article, we take a look at how data can help—and what needs to happen to make this a reality.
What are Systems?
Systems, in the simplest definition, are just processes that can be repeated and scaled regardless of what is going on. In the health care setting, systems are used for standardizing a wide variety of experiences. They are used by the people who check patients in to the doctors and nurses, and everyone within the administrative functions.
Take a typical doctor’s appointment as an example of a healthcare system in action. From the moment a patient walks in, there’s a process: checking in at the front desk, completing paperwork, verifying insurance, waiting to be called back, having vitals taken by a nurse, and finally seeing the provider. Each of those steps is part of a system designed to gather the right information and move the patient smoothly through their visit.
But like all systems, this one isn’t static. With new technology, many of these steps have been revised or even eliminated. Patients might now pre-register online, skipping in-office paperwork entirely. In some cases, they may even complete their entire consultation virtually, removing several steps from the traditional system and streamlining care in a way that wasn’t possible just a few years ago.
It’s through systems that hospitals improve their efficiency and maximize production. However, without data implementation, systems are the result of trial and error in the best case, and guesswork in the worst.
It’s important to keep in mind that the effectiveness of systems is something that is always in flux. To be truly impactful, health care systems should make sure they are constantly reviewing their processes. What made sense five years ago might not work today.
But how do you know? Well, that’s where data comes into play.
There’s No Time Like the Present
There’s good news: it’s never been a better time than the present to need data. For one thing, hospitals have it in overwhelming abundance. Everything a patient touches now produces its own set of numbers. Add to that administrative data and other pieces of information hospitals accumulate, and a different issue emerges—who could possibly make sense of all these numbers?
Historically, data analysts have been relied upon to make this happen. Certainly, that is still the case. But now, with a greater degree of assistance than was ever possible, artificial intelligence is changing the game. AI is an imperfect beast, but one thing it is good at is taking objective information and processing it in a way that is both accurate and effective.
Healthcare systems can now use their vast networks of data, coupled with AI, to draw insights in a way that was never before possible. Discernment is still required to use the information effectively. Smart people need to sit in the driver’s seat and decide what to make of it all. Still, tech is making it easier than ever to make this happen.
Hurdles
One hurdle that still exists is competency. Technology is there to make use of numbers, but the people making decisions at hospitals don’t always know how to best implement it. For many years, the issue of tech compatibility has hindered organizations’ ability to use information effectively. You might have data coming from six different departments, but it’s all siloed away—impossible to use in a cohesive way. That’s an issue even artificial intelligence can’t solve on its own.
One thing hospitals can do, as they try to make the best possible use of their information, is to look for ways to better connect their tech stack. Sometimes, this will unfortunately mean investing in tools that are designed to collaborate more seamlessly. In certain cases, outside consultations may even be needed. There are professionals who specialize in helping organizations improve their data management through tech optimization.
Data in Action
How does this play out in real life? Let’s look at another example: patient monitoring. Traditionally, nurses had to manually check vitals at regular intervals and document the results. Now, with the rise of wearables and smart hospital beds, much of that data is collected automatically and in real time. Nurses can remotely monitor patients on their floor through centralized dashboards, allowing them to track changes instantly without physically being in the room.
This access to real-time data not only streamlines the monitoring process but also improves the quality of care. Subtle changes in vitals can be flagged sooner, and nurses can prioritize attention where it’s most urgently needed. In many cases, it even makes the workload a little easier—reducing the number of routine check-ins and freeing up time for more complex patient needs.
In many cases, using data as a way to improve systems is easier said than done. It takes a lot of money. A lot of effort. Tons of time. These are things that most hospitals don’t have to spare. Nevertheless, slowly but surely, progress is in constant motion. Patient monitoring is just one of many examples. How else will data be used to improve the healthcare system?
That’s a kind of a trick question. Or at least it’s one with an iterative answer. Healthcare systems are in a perpetual state of improvement thanks to data and other valuable technologies.
About the Author
Ryan Ayers is a researcher and consultant within multiple industries including information technology, blockchain and business development. Always up for a challenge, Ayers enjoys working with startups as well as Fortune 500 companies. When not at work, Ayers loves reading science fiction novels and watching the LA Clippers.
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