Performance improvement for the cardiovascular service line requires connecting hospital strategy at the macro level with clinical and business operational objectives at the micro level through the creation of a business intelligence (BI) system. Service line managers need to develop key performance metrics that can hone in on priority problems and/or opportunities to identify trends in close to real time. To date, few robust CV-specific management information systems have been developed that appropriately address this issue. Regardless of this deficiency, a closed loop strategy to execution process needs to be established at the service line level to:
- Set goals within broad hospital strategy and specific service line goals (What are we trying to achieve?)
- Assign accountable roles (Who will be responsible?)
- Define the metrics (What is to be measured?)
- Measure performance (How? Using what systems?)
- Publish results and alerts for all affected staff (Provide accurate and timely feedback)
- Manage accountable actions
- Provide feedback to the process to fine tune over time
CFA can assist in designing a BI system and developing a Performance Improvement Plan, including a methodology and approach to establishing the required process and metrics, and can facilitate or serve as a resource to the overall process on an episodic or ongoing basis