Two of three healthcare decision makers say analytics is one of their organization's top three priorities.
A survey by Vernon Hills, Ill.-based IT company CDW Healthcare asked 150 healthcare executives in August 2014 what their priorities were and why. The respondents were 37 percent IT directors or managers, 21 percent healthcare or clinical informatics specialists, 15 percent CTOs and CIOs, 12 percent marketing directors, 8 percent chief marketing officers and 7 percent CMOs and CMIOs. More than half of the respondents came from hospitals with more than 1,000 beds.
The top motivational factors behind focusing on analytics are the rising cost of healthcare, Medicare/Medicaid EHR incentive programs and accountable care. Approximately 67 percent of organizations are planning for or implementing analytics, but smaller organizations are lagging behind, according to the report.
Approximately 65 percent of hospitals reported that their analytics spending will likely increase in 2015, with the average hospital spending $1.9 million on analytics this year. Most hospitals said analytics improved patient care, reduced readmission rates and improved overall health outcomes as well as improved performance in hospital financials, operations and decision making, according to the report.