In today’s world of technological advancements, knowing how to use data is the key to any organization’s success. This holds true for the healthcare industry as well. For hospitals to optimize their processes and improve the patient flow, the right kind of data must be collected and analyzed.
The advent of big data and other innovations like advanced tracking mechanisms and the Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized how hospitals and other similar institutions can evaluate their existing processes. This results in fewer bottlenecks, thereby improving the overall patient flow.
But the question is how can hospitals use their data effectively to achieve an improved patient flow? In this article, we take a look at 5 practices that make this possible.
1. REAL-TIME LOCATION TRACKING FOR IMPROVED CARE
With real-time location tracking in place, patient flow can be greatly improved by keeping tabs on the exact locations of the patients, staff, and resources.
This tracking system involves digital tags and transmitters that are either worn by the people or installed at various locations. Data is constantly collected through these portals and fed into a live display, usually at the nurse’s station. The system makes it possible to not only keep a track of all the details but also allows the right service to be matched to the patient. This improved patient care eventually results in increased patient flow.
2. PREDICTIVE ANALYSIS FOR FUTURE MODELLING
Hospitals collect a huge amount of data every day. This data can be analyzed using the various predictive analytic models to find the loopholes and optimize the systems. For example, predictive analysis can be successfully implemented to reduce fraud and abuse in the healthcare system.
By refining the systems that are already in place, it is possible to generate goodwill that attracts more patients eventually.
3. DATA ANALYSIS TO FOCUS ON PATIENT-SPECIFIC CARE
This is especially useful for hospitals that provide specialist healthcare services. A lot can be learned by examining historical patient data. These learnings can then be successfully implemented for treating future cases of the same type.
Patient-specific care is crucial for institutions that deal with non-generic ailments. Data analysis can help such hospitals to have a sustainably better system, thus increasing their patient flow eventually.
4. EVENT-DRIVEN PATIENT TRACKING
Complementary to real-time location tracking, an event-driven tracking mechanism is aimed at locating a patient through the data that is entered into the hospital system. This data includes reports from various testing services (like radiology) as well as other data that s specifically keyed in by the staff (like being moved from one room to another).
All this information generates a wealth of knowledge about a patient’s stay at the hospital and can be used effectively to provide better quality services. And patient flow is directly proportional to the quality of service meted out.
5. IOT-BASED PATIENT SERVICES
Nowadays we are surrounded by technology that is constantly collecting data about us. Hospitals can take advantage of such scalable IoT solutions to collect pertinent information about patients, especially their location data. This will allow the accurate prediction of where the patient was before being brought to the hospital. As you can imagine, this system is especially useful for emergency services, where it is necessary to know the whereabouts of a patient before they ended up in a particular situation.
The collection of such tracking mechanisms and sensors, which form the IoT, is a powerful tool that can help hospitals offer a better quality of services, thus increasing the overall patient flow.
Using data effectively and smartly is the cornerstone of building a strong healthcare system. When hospitals use their vast data collection to implement better patient care, using any of the above-mentioned practices, there is a marked increase in the patient flow to the institution.
At Helios Company, we understand the power of data to scale your business to newer heights. Contact us today to learn more about our data solutions and how we may help you.
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