Learn. Enjoy. Do Good
12 February 2016
According to one healthcare intelligence firm, the depth of coding was around four codes on average per patient in June 2009, up from an average of three in 2005. Today’s average is around five codes per patient. Depth of coding is an arbitrary measurement, however, and something which is not defined by the NHS Clinical … Continue reading “Depth of coding is not always the answer to improving data quality”
4 February 2016
Let’s get managers to explain the way they see the world, so we can present data in a meaningful way to them Guest blog by Neil Pettinger It doesn’t take much digging to find people in the NHS who are still sceptical about the benefits of using data. They would prefer to rely on their … Continue reading “Let’s present data in a meaningful way to NHS managers”
12 October 2015
“The higher number of patients waiting to be admitted into a hospital bed from A&E than in previous years points not only to patients being admitted when they are sicker, but also to pressure on beds in other parts of hospitals. This leads to disruption in the flow of patients though A&E. Delays in discharging … Continue reading “Are you winter ready?”
1 June 2015
Closing beds is often something you will here when there is talk of efficiency savings in the NHS. However, closing beds is not as straightforward as it sounds. It has to be planned, thought through and importantly be part of a longer term strategy plan for the organisation to deliver sustainable patient flow from admission … Continue reading “How the NHS can save money by closing beds”
1 June 2015
This week sees the launch of the Beautiful Information manifesto which sets out what we hope to achieve over the coming years. Although it is aspirational, we know that we can make a great deal happen right now, just by using information more effectively and by making it actionable. We call this ‘data into action’ … Continue reading “The beautiful information manifesto launches on the 6th June”
23 April 2015
There are numerous challenges facing any chief operating officer, but keeping on top of patient flow must be one of the most difficult. Not only does a COO need to know what is happening now, they have to know how to react when something happens that might disrupt patient flow. The COO needs to be … Continue reading “Putting together the patient flow jigsaw”
1 March 2015
Solent NHS Trust commissioned beautiful information to provide an external review of the information team’s structure, strategy and work plan and to identify how the reporting framework could move from historic data analysis to the provision of real time intelligence. We commissioned this work because of beautiful information’s success in developing real time intelligence within … Continue reading “Case study: Solent NHS Trust”
30 January 2015
I was recently told a story about the conductor of a large orchestra who wanted to illustrate that he was pivotal to its success. So on one performance he started the orchestra off and then put down his baton. He expected that the various sections would lose time with each other and the performance would … Continue reading “Why the orchestra can still play on without a conductor”
21 November 2014
Publishing consultant outcomes should be, well…simple, shouldn’t it? We have the data, we have guidance on what to publish and we have the means to publish it, but in between there’s a whole spectrum of how to get this simple process wrong. Not least of all by getting the backs up of all our consultants … Continue reading “Consultant Outcomes”
13 November 2014
Having worked in the NHS for nearly 9 years, I’ve often thought if there was job that I would like to do. The answer is (mostly), ‘I would love to be a Doctor’. Although this is probably a simplistic view, I just think being able to help people who need care is an amazing gift. I’m … Continue reading “The Age of Engagement”