Description

This issue of Vital Signs, released on Oct 5th, 2011, discusses the growing need for advanced data analytics within U.S. healthcare provider organizations, particularly hospitals. This article reviews the major drivers of this important trend. It provides insights into how traditional business intelligence, used primarily to report metrics around financial and administrative performance, is now being combined with clinical data emerging from the growing adoption of electronic health records to create a new type of analytics designed to improve the quality and efficiency of patient care. It takes an in depth look at how a major health IT vendor, Siemens, is addressing the growing need for sophisticated analytic approaches including predictive analytics. Also featured is Denver Health and Hospital Authority (Denver Health), a comprehensive, integrated healthcare system located in Denver, Colorado, and a discussion of their experience in developing robust capabilities in advanced analytics.

A company spotlight is provided for Siemens Healthcare and regulatory news from the FDA is also provided for week of 19 September 2011.