Chronic disease management among patients of all
generations for conditions such as diabetes, heart disease
and asthma is one of the most critical issues for health
systems. At the same time, more prevention strategies,
technological advancements and new treatments exist than
ever before. They are available to hospitals that can afford
them.
Every year, total health spending continues to rise. For
some systems, the constant strain of limited resources has
made issues such as wait times a major focus of the public
and political agendas. These pressures all lead to one
outcome: escalating operating costs.
Better use of information can help with the pressure,
balancing use of funds with health outcomes. For
example, administrators typically see length of stay
reports in isolation. They may use such a report to
identify “bed blockers.” By correlating length of stay
attached to specific procedures with a longer-term view on
outcomes, they can see the impact on specific patient care
at an aggregate level. They can determine, for example,
whether quick discharge results in re-admitting for a class
of patients, and the resulting extra burden on the
healthcare system, not to mention the negative impact on
the patient at the system’s center. Acting on this type of
report is not a stretch in logic for any healthcare provider,
but accessing such a report can be with your information
locked in silos.