Justin Fordham, Author at Riverbed

Enhancing Efficiency and Patient Care with Three Types of Performance Data

Justin Fordham — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 12:31:58 +0000

In the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, the importance of capturing and analyzing performance data cannot be overstated. With increasing reliance on digital systems and applications, understanding the intricacies of performance data is essential for healthcare providers to maintain high standards of patient care and operational efficiency.

This blog delves into three pivotal types of performance data: device performance, application performance, and user details, and highlights their significance in the healthcare sector.

Device performance

Device performance data encompasses metrics related to the health and functionality of devices used within healthcare facilities. This includes monitoring CPU usage, memory consumption, disk space, and battery life. For healthcare providers, ensuring that medical devices and computer systems operate optimally is crucial. Any lag or failure in these devices can directly impact patient care, leading to delays in diagnosis or treatment. By regularly monitoring device performance, healthcare IT teams can proactively address potential issues, ensuring that all equipment is functioning correctly and efficiently.

Application performance

Application performance monitoring involves tracking the behavior and efficiency of software applications used in healthcare settings. This includes response times, error rates, and usage patterns of various applications. EHR systems like EPIC and Cerner, PMS like FANS, and diagnostic tools like PACs and Powerscribes are crucial software for healthcare providers. Ensuring these applications run smoothly is vital for maintaining uninterrupted patient care and operational workflows. Monitoring application performance helps in identifying and resolving bottlenecks, thus enhancing the overall user experience and reducing downtime.

User details

The third crucial type of performance data is user details, which provide insights into how healthcare professionals interact with devices and applications. This includes tracking user sessions, usage patterns, and feedback. Understanding user behavior is essential for optimizing the digital experience and identifying training needs. In healthcare, where time and accuracy are paramount, ensuring that staff can efficiently navigate and utilize digital tools is critical. Analyzing user details can highlight areas where systems may need adjustments or where additional training may be required to improve efficiency and satisfaction.

Monitoring employee sentiment

An extension of understanding user details is monitoring employee sentiment. Gathering and analyzing feedback from healthcare professionals regarding their digital experience can offer valuable insights. Correlating sentiment data with performance metrics helps in identifying pain points and areas needing improvement. Enhancing employee satisfaction with digital tools not only boosts productivity but also contributes to better patient care.

Leverage performance data for better healthcare outcomes

For healthcare providers, leveraging these performance data types is indispensable. The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust serves as a prime example. By implementing Riverbed Aternity Digital Experience Management (DEM), they significantly improved clinician productivity and saved approximately £3 million in IT costs over five years. This comprehensive data analysis allowed the ICT team to pinpoint issues, automate problem resolution, and optimize hardware replacements, ultimately enhancing patient care.

Healthcare providers can achieve similar results by capturing and analyzing the objective and subjective metrics of patients and clinicians through device performance, application performance, and user details. This will lead to a more efficient, responsive, and patient-centric healthcare delivery system.