With innovative equipment and robust PACS platforms, radiology is on the cusp of enhanced data analytics that could significantly improve clinical performance. Recent research has shown that as this process becomes more popular, practices can apply data in real-world scenarios to boost medical services.
FierceMedicalImaging reported that Lisa Mead, R.N., a quality and leadership consultant for Crown HealthCare Advisors, penned an article discussing the important uses of data in determining the current state of a practice. For example, managers might notice that patients experience long holds when calling the facility, which would normally lead to hiring more staff to oversee the phones. However, by reviewing data more thoroughly, they may be able to identify administrative issues and develop goals for reducing call wait times.
Radiologists could greatly benefit from data analytics provided by the American College of Radiology, which allows physicians to use a Dose Registry Index to review radiation protocols. Practice leaders can compare their regulations and usage to national averages from other facilities, amending their radiation doses as necessary.
The advantages of a learning health system
Data analytics benefits are far-reaching, especially when practices are trying to improve clinical services for patient populations. This has led to widespread support for the development of learning health systems that focus on one patient to enhance the greater good. As a result, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT has made a national LHS one of the main goals of its 10-year plan for health care interoperability.
According to FierceHealthIT, a recent paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association highlighted the core components of an LHS, coming from specialists employed at notable facilities, such as the National Library of Medicine, Stanford University and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute. At a workshop coordinated by the National Science Foundation, participants worked to create a system based on broad requirements: trust in the platform, economic sustainability and governability, adaptability and responsiveness, and ability to generate continuous improvement, the source explained.
"It follows that achieving the LHS vision requires more than merely addressing difficult engineering challenges; profound and difficult socio-technical challenges will need to be addressed by bringing together a wide-range of disciplines … Along the way, many challenges – including government policies, competition among healthcare providers … and security against the value created by secure sharing of data – will need to be addressed," wrote the authors, quoted by FierceHealthIT.
As evidenced by these studies, data analytics have an important role to play in the future of not only diagnostic radiology, but the health care industry as a whole.
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Ronny Bachrach
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