Embracing Analytics: Determining awareness and capabilities in an acute hospital group in Ireland

Brian Mulhern, Richard Holmes, Elaine Dobell, Louise McBride

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The eHealth project has made significant progress in terms of the rollout and integration of ICT systems across Irish healthcare services. The project objectives are identified inter alia as: placing the patient at the centre of the healthcare delivery system; improved population wellbeing; improved health service provider efficiencies; and the provision of an Electronic Health Record (EHR). The literature suggests that the achievement of these objectives can only be realised through unlocking the ‘meaningful use’ of the vast amounts of data which these systems continue to capture and generate. In the business and corporate world, where successful data analytics adoption has supported business value creation, the approach has been to strategically manage the diffusion of an analytics culture throughout the organisation, recognising that analytics is an amalgam of technology, process, and human capital. This research assesses the level of healthcare analytics awareness and skills across an acute hospital setting in Ireland; the Saolta University Health Care Group. A survey of clinical/administrative leaders, support and technical staff was conducted with the aim of determining data analytics capacity across the Saolta group. Summary statistics provided insight into analytics competency, acquisition of that competency, and use within the speciality or role. The survey also examined the concept of an ‘analytics champion’ as a potential driver of an analytics culture within each speciality/department. Qualitative data suggested analytics use cases, which respondents considered to be important in expanding the role of analytics at the front line. Finally, respondents’ views on appropriate levels of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) around healthcare analytics education was explored. The work will contribute to the requirements of a healthcare analytics project within Saolta and expand discussions around a structured approach to healthcare analytics adoption across the acute sector in general.

Original languageEnglish
Article number100109
JournalHealthcare Analytics
Volume2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2022

Keywords

  • Acute hospitals
  • Awareness levels
  • Capability
  • Health data & information
  • Healthcare analytics
  • Skills

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