Healthcare Analytics for Quality and Performance Improvement

CHAPTER 3

Developing an Analytics Strategy to Drive Change

You’ve got to think about big things while you’re doing small things, so that all the small things go in the right direction.

—Alvin Toffler

An analytics strategy is more than simply a data utilization strategy, a data analysis strategy, a technology strategy, or a quality improvement strategy. In fact, elements of all these are required for an effective analytics strategy. An analytics strategy is necessary to ensure that an organization’s analytics capabilities are aligned with its quality and performance improvement needs. This chapter discusses what an analytics strategy is, and will outline the steps necessary to develop an effective analytics strategy. In developing a strategy, the chapter will discuss the components of and inputs to an analytics strategy, stakeholders who must be involved in developing the strategy, communicating the strategy, and how to implement it for maximum success.

Purpose of an Analytics Strategy

The purpose of an analytics strategy is to guide a healthcare organization’s (HCO) ability to rapidly respond to the information needs of stakeholders while maintaining a consistent direction in supporting the quality and business goals of the HCO. It provides a guide for sorting through many, perhaps conflicting information and analysis needs, and prevents the HCO from being too swayed by vendor hype and other distractions. The strategy provides analytics teams with the focus and direction needed ...