Problem
Our client is a healthcare provider on the East Coast that needed help in improving their operations. This included factors such as wait-time in emergency, response time to patient calls, and other factors.
Solution
In order to improve healthcare operations, the task involved would include data collection, analysis of the data, finding out process gaps through analysis of the collected data, and finally improving the system based on the identified gaps. We felt that IBM Cognos Analytics would be the best solution to tackle the problem. We started the process by spending time in the facility and collecting data from the ground. We collected several types of data including response time to patient calls, wait time in the emergency rooms, accompanying factors during each individual waiting scenario, etc. Based on the collected data, we used the BI tool to analyze and visualize the data in forms that would help us and our clients understand gaps in the situation. We identified several areas that needed improvement. We also came up with ways to anticipate high footfall and demand based on surrounding conditions. This helped predict situations when our clients would need more manpower because of high volume. Operational improvement being a continuous process, it was important that our clients become experts with the adopted BI tool. We ensured that proper training was provided. We oversaw our client employees use the tool in the best possible manner, and only when the handover was successful, we marked the project as completed.
Outcome
The major benefits of this project were:
- Rapid availability of relevant information
- 15% Reduction in response time to patient calls
- 35% Reduction in wait-time in emergency
- Easy dissemination of best practices and relevant lessons
- Multiple levels of access based on position and requirement
- Online record and visual representation of all relevant information
- Hassle-free experience for patients, doctors, and facility personnel