Simulating the impact of an online digital dashboard in emergency departments on patients length of stay

Abstract

a Department of industrial engineering and management, Ben-Gurion university of the negev, Beer-sheva, israel; b faculty of Business administration, ono academic college, Kiriat-ono, israel ABSTRACTOvercrowding at EDs is a world known problem which negatively affects the quality of medical care. It is evident, for example, by long patients' waiting times. EDs frequently use average patients' length of stay (LOS) as a performance indicator. Long LOS is commonly correlated with overcrowding. In this research, a prototype of an electronic online digital dashboard, termed operational BI, was developed following the Design Science Research methodology. The system is targeted to be used by the ED staff. Simulation was used to assess if such a system, which displays ED's critical data in a dashboard visualisation, can decrease LOS, thereby ease EDs' overcrowding. Six scenarios were simulated, depicting various use patterns. The results show a potential decrease of 34-44% in average LOS, depending on the use pattern. These are promising results that call for further, realworld examination of the system.

Automated analysis of free-text comments and dashboard representations in patient experience surveys: a multimethod co-design study

“…Forty-three studies were included in the review. Study settings and intervention types included general practice, 73 quality-of-life information systems, 74,75 primary care, 76,77 emergency departments, 78,79 personal health dashboards, 80 hospital care 79,[81][82][83][84][85] and sexual health. 86…”

“…The evaluation methods used in studies varied from focus groups and interviews 74,[87][88][89] to walk-throughs, 74,76,78,82,90,91 eye-tracking 82 and questionnaires. 79,82,91 The study findings covered access, flexibility and individualisation, usability, use of images and videos, chart types, data interrogation, print and export, community features, security and privacy and offering recommendations and solutions, which are considered in turn in the following sections.…”

“…82,84 The red/amber/green (RAG) traffic-light colour system has been found to be universally recognisable across health care. 76,78,79,81,83,95,112…”

Methodologies for designing healthcare analytics solutions: A literature analysis

“…DSR embodies guidelines and supporting activities that lead to an effective problem formulation for designing a solution artefact but also offers guidance for communicating its knowledge contribution, improving research value. 35,41 The existing research presented in Table 2 used established DSR approaches, typically defining target problems, with impacts, scope and foundation of a solution and engaging representative users through techniques such as interviews, focus groups, observations, prototyping and workshops, where business practices and A model of new healthcare analytics 39 Unified structured processes for standardising medical data A process model using a DSR 12 approach A descriptive analytics model using a BI dashboard 40 Extending recently implemented EMR system by developing an operational BI capability for assisting Israeli hospital emergency departments' administration A model of an electronic online digital dashboard, operational business intelligence constructed using a DSR methodology 41 A patient-centric healthcare delivery model 28 Meeting informational needs, empowerment by reducing information asymmetry between patients/caregivers and healthcare team IT artefact to engage patients in hospital setting. Participatory design DSR: design science research; BI: business intelligence; HBIS: hospital-based business intelligence system; EMR: electronic medical record; IT: information technology.…”

“…The above-mentioned research used such methods for artefact evaluation within its practical business environment (e.g. Mazor et al 40 used a simulation model; Ahangama and Poo 39 used interviews, while others used Hevner’s 38 design cycles and use-cases (e.g. Figure 6)).…”