Using Data for Decision Making

It is important to understand how data is used to connect with stakeholders and how managers use it to make decisions. Health care organizations must interpret data for their stakeholders to successfully meet their needs. Consider how and why a health care organization operating in a community would need to explain, to stakeholders, the type of patients it treats and the results of its treatments. It is also important to understand how health care organizations use data mining, gathering, and storage systems to support decision making. This assignment provides an opportunity for you to examine the data needs of a health care organization and determine how they can be met.

Note: The numbered requirements outlined below correspond to the grading criteria in the scoring guide. Be sure that your executive summary addresses each point, at a minimum. You may also want to read the Using Data for Decision Making Scoring Guide to better understand how each criterion will be assessed.

Describe the types of internal data available within a health care system.
Consider the data needs of decision makers, such as unit managers, department heads, and hospital administrators.
Describe the types of external data available within a health care system.
Consider the data needs of decision makers, such as unit managers, department heads, and hospital administrators.
Propose strategies for accessing and analyzing available data.
Consider the advantages and disadvantages of each strategy.
Provide a high-level summary of the data needs within the Vila Health system.
The summary should be suitable for leaders and high-level stakeholders.
How would you prioritize those needs?
Propose strategies for meeting the data needs of Vila Health.
Consider the advantages and disadvantages of each strategy.
Propose communication strategies for disseminating strategic information to end-users.
What evidence do you have to support your proposed strategies?