Using Data to Change Processes
Data mining can be the foundation for meaningful changes in the practice of medicine. Inova Health System has evidence that proves this is far more than just a hypothesis. The Falls Church, Va.-based system, which owns five hospitals, is using the information pinpointed by data mining to help devise new clinical processes. Then it’s using its electronic health records system to guide clinicians on how to follow those processes, providing rules and alerts to steer them on the right path.
The result? Serious safety events-those that cause serious harm or even death-declined by 60% from May 2005 to February 2009 at Inova’s hospitals. Hospital-acquired infections declined 60% during the same period. And the mortality rate has substantially declined.
Inova is using Web-based data mining software called Quality Manager from Premier Inc., a Charlotte, N.C.-based purchasing alliance. It’s a participant in Premier’s Quest, a quality improvement benchmarking project. The alliance recently announced that it will expand the project beyond the original 166 hospitals.