A Review of Dashboards for Data Analytics in Nursing

Abstract

Dashboards are data-driven clinical decision support tools used to analyze data from multiple databases using easy-to-read, color-coded graphical displays, much like the dashboards of automobiles. Dashboards can be used to promote data-driven decision making and improve adherence to evidence-based practice guidelines. The purpose of this article was to provide a review of dashboards used to query electronic health records for the purpose of guiding clinical practice and research. An inductive content analysis approach was used to identify emerging themes directly from the literature. Five basic dashboard properties identified include the type of database integration, visual properties, purpose, time focus (ie, retrospective, real time, or predictive), and type of process monitored. These dashboard properties are determined by the characteristics of the specific organization, user, and purpose of data analysis. Using dashboards to perform automated analytical reviews of clinical data will prove more efficient when data elements stored in electronic health records become standardized. Other limitations of dashboard use include user anxiety, information overload, and technology overload. The increased use of electronic documentation in healthcare settings will provide a wealth of data, and dashboards will play a pivotal role in converting these data into actionable knowledge.

Key Performance Indicators across the Perioperative Process: Holistic Opportunities for Improvement via Business Process Management

“…Using scorecards and dashboards for purposes such as strategic, tactical, and day-to-day operations, coupled with internal and external best-practice benchmarks, provide the framework for targeting opportunities and measuring improvement to the perioperative process. Drawing a distinction between the two, dashboards monitor process performance via charts or tables while scorecards focus on target or goal attainment using graphics [3,36].…”

“…KPI data granularity within the scorecard or dashboard must be high enough to support drill down capabilities for knowledge discovery via online analytical processing or data mining to support analysis, evaluation, and synthesis activities associated with possible decisions [17]. Overall, scorecards and dashboards can play a pivotal role in converting data and information into actionable knowledge [3,10,36] …”

Patient Postoperative Care Data Visualization

“…Regular patient dashboard presents: average length of stay, total number of patients, lab turnaround time [24]. The user interface is most commonly created using intuitive analogies and is similar to car dashboard with trafficlight color coding [24,25]. Effective dashboards display data within a single page and use key performance indicators, can be easily understood by all levels of medical staff.…”

“…Most of these dashboards focus on performance improvement and document excellence [22,23,24]. Dashboards usually provide front-line workers with real-time emergency room metrics [24].…”

“…Dashboards usually provide front-line workers with real-time emergency room metrics [24]. Regular patient dashboard presents: average length of stay, total number of patients, lab turnaround time [24]. The user interface is most commonly created using intuitive analogies and is similar to car dashboard with trafficlight color coding [24,25].…”