UCHealth brings predictive analytics to the OR
Aurora, Colorado-based UCHealth has partnered again with LeanTaaS, a Silicon Valley-based predictive analytics startup. It will implement iQueue for Operating Rooms, which combines lean principles with advanced data tools for operating room utilization improvements.
The flagship University of Colorado Hospital is the first of the system's five hospitals to deploy iQueue for Operating Rooms; UCHealth plans to integrate the platform at its other hospitals within the next year.
The iQueue platform taps into UCHealth's Epic EHR and analyzes OR usage patterns to determine how to reallocate time to surgeons for improved efficiency. There's also a mobile feature that connects surgeons to the platform with real-time data for OR block management.
"Sometimes it's really hard to just look at data and say, what do I do with this? How do I make the data work for the organization?" said University of Colorado Hospital Chief Information Officer Steve Hess. "The data may be there, but we all need to ask ourselves, is the data creating the story that we need?
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"With its machine learning and tools pushing data to surgeons, these are the changes that LeanTaaS is doing that will make the difference," Hess said. "This is actually retrospective and predictive. Not only will it tell us about OR usage, but it can also tell us what's happening and where it's going."
By deploying this platform into the complex OR scheduling challenges facing UCHealth, the organization hopes to tackle capacity issues, improve OR utilization and workflow, according to Hess. Moving the needle just 1 percent, on one OR room can contribute to the bottom line and improve efficiencies, he said.
"The combination of analytics, real-time data and block release and assignment exchange platform for smartphones: We see it as a game changer," Hess said. "It's too early to tell what kind of utilization we'll see, but we do expect this to be extremely positive."
This is the second time UCHealth has turned to LeanTaas to improve its hospital operations. This past fall, the health system deployed LeanTaaS' iQueue for Infusion Centers across its entire system. Its success drove the decision to bring the technology into its operating room scheduling, Hess said.
Twitter: @JessieFDavis
Email the writer: jessica.davis@himssmedia.com
