Effective management of the healthcare system is impossible without high-quality data. To understand the accessibility of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) services, how diagnostic equipment is used, the workload of specialists, and where there is room for improvement, we need not only statistics but also a tool to analyze them.
The new dashboard, “Statistics on Imaging Examinations (CT/MRI) in the Electronic Health Care System,” developed by the National Health Service of Ukraine based on data from the electronic health care system, serves as precisely such a tool.
The dashboard will be useful for healthcare facility managers, medical facility owners, health departments, local government bodies, and anyone involved in decision-making regarding the development of diagnostic infrastructure.
It contains aggregated statistics on all CT and MRI scans—information on which has been entered into the ESOS—and allows for the analysis not only of the volume of services provided but also of indicators of access to these services at specific facilities.
What does the dashboard offer?
The new dashboard allows users to move beyond analyzing individual metrics to a comprehensive assessment of how patient access to CT/MRI diagnostics is organized at a specific facility, in a community, or across a region.
All indicators are generated automatically based on ESOS data and change depending on the selected filters.
In particular, the dashboard shows:
- number of examinations—how many CT or MRI scans were performed and entered into the ESOS directly by the service provider;
- number of patients—how many people received a specific type of examination (each patient is counted only once, regardless of the number of examinations);
- number of visits—how many times patients visited a medical facility (one visit is defined as a patient’s visit to a single provider on a given day, regardless of the number of examinations performed that day);
- number of active devices—how many CT and MRI machines are registered in the ESOS and have “available” status (this indicator reflects registration in the system, not confirmation that the device was in use at that exact moment or for a specific examination);
- average workload per machine and per specialist per day, which allows for an assessment of resource utilization intensity;
- time-related metrics—the average number of examinations per day, on weekdays and weekends, the proportion of examinations conducted after 6:00 PM, as well as the days with the highest activity.
Managers and owners of facilities can:
- assess the workload on equipment and healthcare professionals;
- analyze how evenly work is distributed throughout the day and week;
- compare their facility’s metrics with those of other healthcare facilities, communities, or regions;
- verify the completeness and accuracy of medical records entered into the ESOS;
- view statistics broken down by examinations that have or have not passed automatic medical record monitoring;
- use the data obtained to plan staffing, develop diagnostic infrastructure, and organize department operations.
The dashboard also allows you to view examinations by funding source: examinations performed under the Medical Guarantees Program (both those included and excluded from the statistics based on the results of automated monitoring), as well as those conducted under other programs or as paid services.
Why is this important for facility managers and owners?
The dashboard makes it possible to:
- objectively assess the availability of CT and MRI scans
- see the workload on facilities
- compare their own performance metrics with those of other facilities in the community and region
- identify the need for diagnostic infrastructure development
- make decisions based on up-to-date data.
For healthcare facility owners, it is also a tool that helps assess the efficiency of existing equipment, plan for its development, and ensure access to high-cost diagnostics for community residents.
Open data—the foundation of modern management
The dashboard generates information based on data from the electronic health system and is updated twice a month. This makes it possible to work with up-to-date statistics, identify negative trends in a timely manner, evaluate the results of management decisions, and plan the further development of the healthcare network.
The dashboard is available on the NSZU website at: https://surl.li/dduhlk
Every number on the dashboard is more than just a statistic. It offers the opportunity to see how accessible CT and MRI scans are to patients, to identify problem areas in a timely manner, and to make decisions that will improve access to diagnostics for community residents. After all, it is precisely these decisions that determine whether a person will be able to undergo the necessary examination in a timely manner.