Most healthcare organizations are trying to make sense of their data. Their goals include leveraging data to improve the quality of care, increase workforce productivity, and identify opportunities for cost savings. However, they are operating against a backdrop of growing workforce shortages, significant financial pressures, and a push for value-based care.
In December 2023, HIMSS Market Insights conducted research among healthcare leaders to understand their perspectives on the use of data analytics platforms. In a recent webinar, Michael Meucci, CEO at Arcadia, and Patty Enrado, Senior Director of Client Content Development at HIMSS discussed the results of that survey and what it means for healthcare today and in the future.
The research revealed that four in five healthcare leaders believe most of their organization's data is accurate. But, more than half of leaders believe that they are not using their full data for smart business decisions. Technology is the bridge that can help organizations use their trusted data, but it requires workforce development, strategy, and an understanding of what data accuracy means.
This statistic sheds light on an opportunity we have as an industry to invest in better training on data literacy and in common data governance. We need to invest in workforce development to make sure teams are collaborating around data, speaking the same language, and understanding how to integrate datasets.
Technology tools launch rapidly and bring new capabilities and opportunities to healthcare organizations. Leaders can harness the power of AI and other technologies to reduce the amount of time they spend analyzing data points from weeks to minutes. That power enables leaders to pivot and respond to feedback.
Healthcare leaders can also use new technology to accelerate the path to leveraging predictive analytics or implementing data governance policies and testing predictive models to understand their effectiveness.
There are dozens of use cases for data analytics in healthcare. Beyond traditional uses, such as identifying patients with missed appointments or abnormal test results, organizations collect data from many disparate sources, including care occurring at home and social determinants of health.
Data platforms play a key role in connecting the vast amount of data captured outside of the four walls of healthcare facilities. Bringing data together enables whole-person care and drives healthcare in places where patients feel most comfortable.
For example, using data from a change of address database can help identify which patients may be experiencing a housing crisis. These efforts show how healthcare organizations can combine clinical and non-clinical datasets to create a comprehensive view of the whole person.
More than half of healthcare leaders say they have integrated the following within their data analytics platforms:
Those who haven’t are making a strategic mistake. Not integrating means your workforce is doing it manually and you are losing value from those team members. This also enables a less competitive environment in the marketplace for patients and clinicians.
We also must ask ourselves if our administrative and technical teams are working at the top of their license to solve big problems. If you don't have the data platform and a data integration strategy, then it’s likely you aren’t getting the value out of those investments.
One of several common barriers to implementing a data platform is security and privacy concerns. The only way to completely address this barrier is to never collect or share data. But that tactic does a disservice to patients in delivering the highest quality care possible. Healthcare leaders should find comfort in knowing there is a significant amount of work happening to maintain data security and privacy through trusted frameworks.
Staffing has become a relentless challenge for healthcare organizations. A lot of the challenge is due to burnout, and data strategy can be part of the solution. These are areas that healthcare leaders must focus on. If we can't turn around the burnout problem, the physician shortage can be a threat to our global economy. The healthcare industry and government will have to think differently to prevent a national crisis.
To address this, minimizing touchpoints is essential. Meucci envisions a future within five years where physicians no longer need to interact with Electronic Health Records (EHRs). By leveraging a robust data strategy and harnessing technology more effectively, the healthcare industry can combat physician burnout and address the looming physician shortage.
Data is the backbone of every technology solution, and a data strategy is a powerful tool healthcare organizations can use to achieve their goals. If you're struggling with data complexity or resource constraints, consider enlisting the support of a third-party provider.
Download the full executive summary of our report to gain a deeper understanding of how data analytics can strengthen your data strategy.