In stroke care, the hundreds of data points collected in EHRs can be used to assess stroke cases at all phases.
Advanced data analytics can save lives and help HCOs earn Primary Stroke Center certification.
When it comes to stroke care, having access to the most granular of data can make all the difference. Acute strokes, whether ischemic or hemorrhagic, are very time-sensitive and require rapid diagnosis and treatment, as well as a specific sequence of interventions.
In stroke care, hundreds of data points are collected in electronic health record (EHR) systems. Clinics, hospitals, emergency departments, urgent cares, and rehab facilities all use this data to assess stroke cases at all phases, including:
- Screening patients for high stroke risk to prevent possible future strokes.
- Learning what works and what is not as effective for prevention.
- Using in-process stroke data to analyze the progression of the stroke over time, and to determine the exact course of treatment.
- Using stroke outcomes data to gauge level of disability after the event, assess efficacy of treatments, and monitor for recurrence.
d2i can help translate all of that data into a meaningful roadmap that enables evidence-based continuous improvement. Beyond the bedside, clinical outcomes data can be used for administrative insights, including, for example, return-on-investment for stroke programs, operational costs, follow-up visits, pharmacy dispensing, and treatment compliance.
Joint Commission Primary Stroke Center Certification
Many organizations seek the Joint Commission’s Primary Stroke Center certification as a way to advance their stroke programs, attract physicians and specialists, and increase patient volumes. The Joint Commission uses process performance measures for accountability, accreditation, public reporting, and pay-for-performance.
Becoming a center of excellence for stroke care is a journey, and data collection and analysis is the roadmap. Along the way to certification, it is critical to harvest a facility’s stroke data and use it to make meaningful improvements.
Complex sets of stroke interventions must be done in a time-sensitive way, and severity of stroke symptoms recorded repeatedly. The success of a stroke program is about minimizing variability. If specific interventions are not documented in the same way every time, the outcomes of cases can’t be comparatively researched.
Dozens of data points are captured to tell the story of each stroke case, its severity, treatment options, and outcomes. Each stroke patient must receive the same algorithm of care, each time, to arrive at the best possible treatment decision, and a speedy and life-saving resolution.
Get With The Guidelines® Stroke program
The American Heart Association (AHA) administers the Get With The Guidelines Stroke registry, which collects data from stroke centers across the country, large and small. Data is entered into an online tool, and then aggregated across the country to show trends, best practices, and overall outcomes, as well as to facilitate research. Hospitals receive recognition for participating in this program, and most Joint Commission Primary Stroke Centers (as well as others) participate in the AHA program.
The AHA has a broad focus and seeks connections in data, for instance between COVID-19 and stroke. With many EHR systems, delving into the data at this level can be very hands-on and time-consuming. d2i can help find the answers to the important questions when it comes to registry submissions, making the process much easier.
By using d2i’s Advanced Analytics Application to supplement EHR data, organizations can dig even deeper into their data to find improvement opportunities that save lives. Statistics alone can tell an organization which stroke interventions are below benchmark, but d2i can drill down on stats by shift, case type, facility, and even by provider. By segmenting data in multiple ways, a more targeted performance improvement initiative can be implemented to quickly improve organizational performance.
Value-Based Care
Best-in-class stroke care provides life-saving treatment that is carefully orchestrated for speed, accuracy, and the most up-to-date evidence-based care. Patients reap the benefits of better stroke programs, and organizations see performance gains in value-based care programs, accreditation programs, and outcomes such as mortality rates and readmissions.
Contact d2i for more information on how its cloud-based analysis tools can help you improve stroke care performance, or request a demo to get an under-the-hood look guided by one of our domain experts.