In the age of advanced technology and Big Data, the healthcare industry has shifted from a reactive, paper-based system to a proactive, evidence-based, and patient-centric model. This shift has significantly improved patient care, reduced medical errors, and helped medical institutions improve performance.
Nowadays, you can get a holistic view of a healthcare organization’s overall performance by tracking KPIs across the three core pillars of healthcare: Quality, Efficiency, and Patient Experience.
In this article, we’ll dissect the undeniable connection between data and quality healthcare, and explain the three key KPIs every healthcare board should track—and why they matter.
The Healthcare and Data Connection
Due to today’s tech, the entire patient-healthcare unit relationship can be turned into valuable data points. Every interaction brings in new data and information that, if tracked, gives those running the admin tasks an idea of how to improve and streamline operations.
Data also helps identify bottlenecks, subpar services, and points of contention, allowing healthcare leaders to make smarter, evidence-based decisions that enhance patient outcomes, boost efficiency, and reduce overall costs.
But tracking is only half of the solution. Healthcare units also have to organize, standardize, and interpret the information, which can be quite time- and resource-consuming.
This is where companies like American Data Network (ADN) come in to make the job easier. For instance, ADN's clinical data abstraction services help hospitals and clinics keep data flowing smoothly without hiring additional staff. This way, even if there are disruptions or staff shortages, there’s no delay in data processing.
The 3 Essential Healthcare KPIS to Follow
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) like readmission rates, length of stay (ALOS), and patient satisfaction scores help hospitals and clinics spot deviations from quality and efficiency goals.
Here’s how:
1. Readmission Rate
This is a critical indicator of the quality of care provided during a hospital stay or treatment episode.
The KPI measures the percentage of patients who return to the hospital within a specific period (usually 30 days) after being discharged for the same or a related condition. A high rate suggests problems with discharge planning, care coordination, patient education, or the effectiveness of the original treatment.
A lower rate reflects successful management of the patient's condition and a smooth transition back home.
2. Average Length of Stay (ALOS)
ALOS measures the average number of days a patient stays in the healthcare facility. The purpose of this KPI is to measure how efficiently resources are used and how quickly patients move through the care process.
A longer-than-expected ALOS suggests potential bottlenecks in the process—delays in tests, consultation wait times, or discharge paperwork. Also, prolonged stays increase the risk of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and other complications.
3. Patient Satisfaction Score
This directly measures how the patient perceives the care and service they receive, which is vital for a healthcare unit’s reputation and loyalty.
The data is collected through standardized surveys (such as HCAHPS in the US) that ask patients to rate their experience across several factors, including communication, pain management, cleanliness, and overall experience.
The goal is to maximize the score and consistently track and address areas with low ratings (e.g., poor communication or long wait times).
Wrap Up
Accurate data, tracked in real time and processed correctly, is the main driver of the shift to a more efficient healthcare industry. Both patients and healthcare units stand to gain from this evolution—patients receive faster, more personalized care, while providers optimize resources, cut costs, and deliver higher-quality outcomes.
