Title: Identifying data-driven healthcare facilities: a case study in VHA hospitals

Authors: Shing I. Chang; Kimberly D. Douglas-Mankin; Michelle J. Chang; Leslie Ann Ang-Carabuena; Behnam Tavakkol

Addresses: Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Kansas State University, 2071 Rathbone Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA ' Newel Research Group, 8504 Bouvardia Ave. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120, USA ' Aspen Technology, 51 Russell Road, Somerville, MA 02144, USA ' Convey Health Solutions Philippines, Inc., 305 Katipunan Road, Unit 1004, Loyola Heights, Quezon City, Philippines ' Industrial and Systems Engineering Department, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA

Abstract: This study was conducted to assess the degree to which the VHA (Veterans Health Administration) network engages in data analytics and is based off of data collected from 12 healthcare facilities. The main research question is how to measure how data driven a healthcare facility is. A survey instrument was developed and distributed to all employees in the VHA healthcare facilities included in this study. The 15 questions asked in the proposed instrument were further grouped into eight hypotheses related to data visibility, data accessibility, use of data, use of charts and graphs, training received, and training climate. The 12 facilities were ranked based on composite scores determined from the answers to the questions posed by the tool. Exploratory and in-depth analyses were conducted to identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

Keywords: six sigma; data analytics; metrics; data-driven healthcare facilities; case study; VHA hospitals; Veterans Health Administration; healthcare delivery; USA; United States; data visibility; data accessibility; data usage; charts; graphs; training; continuous improvement.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSCA.2016.080802

International Journal of Six Sigma and Competitive Advantage, 2016 Vol.10 No.2, pp.98 - 111

Received: 14 Jan 2016
Accepted: 24 Oct 2016
Published online: 07 Dec 2016 *

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