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Overview

Data monitoring, from the highest level down to the patient level is critical to identifying trends, gaining insights, and communicating transparently with staff and stakeholders. Data monitoring approaches such as dashboarding are used to display data in a simple and intuitive way, allowing a snapshot of performance on selected measures to see changes or areas for improvement. Business intelligence systems such as population health management analytics allows for the monitoring of the health of a whole patient population, stratified by various characteristics, thereby supporting care planning, resource allocation, and training opportunities. Resources in this section include tools to begin dashboarding, considerations for taking the next step with population health management and guidance on how to navigate the many factors of any data monitoring approach.

Monitoring and Communicating with Data
Data Dictionary Tool and Template

Data Dictionary Tool and Template

Organizational tool for your EHR and analytics platform data indicators

This Data Dictionary provides a single point of reference for data mapping and interpretation for all of the indicators in your quality reports. Organization of the data definitions in this tool provides a reference for the team of all such definitions that impact reports and alerts in the analytics application. For example, it provides a format to document all items in a given report, and related EHR data. That application may be the EHR or an analytics platform that is tied to the EHR. Anyone with questions about where data is being pulled from for any indicator can reference the Data Dictionary without analyst security privileges or expertise within the analytics tools. The Data Dictionary should be curated by analysts and made available on a shared drive or company intranet.

Download the Excel tool below to see a full example and additional instructions. 

Also, see the companion Quality Report Inventory tool here.

Documents to download

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Intended AudienceEHR, IT, and QI Staff; Clinical Quality Team members looking for ways to communicate data to their team and other stakeholders

Acknowledgements

This resource collection was compiled by the HITEQ Center staff with guidance from HITEQ Advisory Committee members and collaborators of the HITEQ Center.

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The Quadruple Aim
Quadruple Aim

A Conceptual Framework

Improving the U.S. health care system requires four aims: improving the experience of care, improving the health of populations, reducing per capita costs and improving care team well-being. HITEQ Center resources seek to provide content and direction aligned with the goals of the Quadruple Aim

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