How Many Spreadsheets Does It Take to Run a Health Center?

We are told just about every day in health care that data is the future, we need to get better at data, we need to justify our knowledge with data, and we need data to receive funding in the future. But how are we handling data today? Are we still working with multiple spreadsheets? Inputting data by hand? If we are unable to handle the little day-to-day encounters with data, is there any hope for us when the viability of the health center depends on reporting large amounts of data on a daily basis? Creating a culture where analysts understand the data cycle will be a defining characteristic of successful health centers.

Many of us understand the revenue cycle, but alongside this and other business processes is the data cycle. This cycle involves how the various bits and pieces of information flow throughout our electronic environments (and sometimes paper environments). This cycle is full of opportunities for efficiency that we overlook in our day-to-day activities. Directors and managers don't have the time to find and improve the data cycle. This is where we need to have analysts be the eyes on the front lines of the health center.

• Identify the data cycle in the health center operations.
• Identify how mismanaging data can cost the health center money.
• Utilize all employees as analysts to improve the data cycle.