Top data analytics challenges facing healthcare organizations

 

pexels-photo-590045.jpg

"It is an interesting dilemma; as a healthcare executive, you want interoperability between and with all organizations affiliated with you to retain patients and enhance the quality of their care," vice president, health information systems, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). "Interoperability outside of your organization is not as compelling from the execs' point of view."

Managed Healthcare Executive's (MHE's) 2018 tech survey findings, conducted in the fourth quarter 2017, shed more light on the topic of interoperability and data analytics and the opportunities and challenges healthcare executives face associated with it. The full survey findings will be released in February, but here's a sneak peek:

Thirty percent of the 115 respondents said their most pressing information technology problem is difficulty in turning data into actionable information.

Wise is not surprised by this finding. Healthcare organization recipients of HIMSS Davies Awards "consistently and constantly discuss the challenge of turning raw data into meaningful information," she says.

Thirty percent of survey respondents say they do not have enough staff members with adequate expertise in data analytics.

"Presumably recruiting and retaining more employees with expertise in data analysis will facilitate solutions in turning that data into actionable information," says Mildred Segura, partner at Reed Smith, an international law firm. "Although, of course, there needs to be guidance from the top and a big-picture strategy. Furthermore, leadership needs to recognize that recruiting top tech talent might not be easy."

With technological innovations, such as the Internet of Things, providing data at unprecedented levels, the demand for experts in data analytics is increasing. There is going to be significant competition for top employees--not just within the specific sector but throughout all economic sectors--and companies will have to work hard to recruit and retain those employees, according to Segura.

"Part of that strategy should be business sector and company specific," she says. "Presumably, company leaders familiar with their business are best-placed to work with data experts to develop a strategy for collecting the most valuable data and translating that data into business strategies and improving customer experience."

Wise agrees and says that the other challenge is having the organizational structure that allows for big picture thinking as well as an ability to drill down to a small department or service.

Source: Managed Healthcare Executive (View full article)

Posted by Dan Corcoran on December 13, 2017 07:11 AM

Printer friendly Printer friendly

Post a comment