Statistics for health sciences and its impact

(The Lancet, 2007)

 

                 Statistics has been a hot topic the last few years in the world of healthcare.   The potential of statistics in the health care arena was theory for many years until the health care world embraced integrated health information systems.  With this change in the culture of health care information is being captured at levels that have never occurred before.  With so much information at the fingertips of healthcare organizations the logical step of putting that information to use has come to reality.  Health care organizations are putting this statistical information to resolve issues of compliancy, find areas where they can find gains, and establish patterns within patients that can help with diagnostics.

                Clinical practice areas are seeing large improvements by taking case data and formulating care plans that are helping to treat patients in a more accurate and effective way.  One example of this is with cancer patients in the nursing field.  Nurses are able to use statistical data from past patients to implement more effective care plans that are cutting costs and producing better patient outcomes (Farrell, 2011).  Patients are able to get out of hospitals faster which is not only a testament to the care that they are getting but are also reducing the risk of infection from hospital acquired diseases that put patients at further risk.

                Clinical areas are not the only departments in health care organizations that are utilizing statistics to see gains in functionality and process.  Administration and business offices within health care organizations are able to plan and staff better to maximize profits due to the fact that they are using statistics to trend and project staffing levels (Bodycomb, 2012).  Health care organizations are also using statistical reporting to submit reports to the federal government in regards to meeting specific metrics that are required for meaningful use certification.  For those organizations that can prove they are within the required numbers they are able to get bonus reimbursements back from the federal government.  Statistics truly has endless applications in healthcare and will continue to help with process improvements for years to come.  

References:

Bodycomb, A., & Del Baglivo, Megan D, MLS. (2012). Using an automated tool to calculate return on investment and cost benefit figures for resources: The health sciences and human services library experience EC. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 100(2), 127-30. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1011119534?accountid=32521

Farrell, C. (2011). Statistics for health, life and social sciences. Cancer Nursing Practice, 10(10), 6-6. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/914321351?accountid=32521

The Lancet. (2007, March 3). Health statistics. Retrieved from http://www.thelancet.com/series/health-statistics