This month the Practice Analytics Node profiles Wilson Yeung. Wilson is currently the Implementation Manager for Health Analytics at eHealth NSW where he is part of the Data and Analytics Portfolio which was formed in March 2018. One of his primary responsibilities is managing the implementation of the NSW Health Analytics Framework which outlines the vision for analytics in NSW Health to “transform health through data and insights”. The Framework provides an actionable plan to drive broader and more sophisticated analytics use to better support decision making and analysis across the NSW health system.
Wilson was asked five quick questions about Practice Analytics
What does practice analytics mean to you?
For me practice analytics is about translating and harnessing the new information and insights generated through data into practice to deliver value and positive outcomes. An example of this is how analytics actually drives value and make a difference for a clinical unit. This can be achieved if analytics is provided to the clinical unit in a timely and meaningful manner which fits into existing workflows so new information and insights can be utilised for action.
How did you get interested in practice analytics?
A lot of the time, we focus on the tools and technologies to deliver analytics and forget how to apply analytics into practice. From my experience, we don’t view the two as a whole when they should be joined at the hip. As a result, I am keen to make sure that whatever analytics is developed, benefits realisation and the value proposition are made known right at the onset. This has sparked my interest in practice analytics which is really about translating theory into practice and how to utilise new insights and information into the decision making process.
What excites you about the area?
With the digitisation of health systems, we now have a proliferation of data. This data when utilised in the right context can assist with decision making. In the context of NSW Health, this can mean driving better value care and improving patient outcomes and safety. What excites me about this area is that we also need to work on this as a system and have all areas come along the journey since analytics has the potential to make a significant impact in how we run our health system. Another aspect which excites me is that practice analytics incorporates a number of disciplines which include implementation science, change management and benefits realisation for it to be successful.
What are some of big challenges in the practice analytics areas?
The biggest challenge is how do we incorporate practice analytics into the day to day work flow of our clinical teams. How do we make it meaningful for them so that it actually adds value to the care that they provide? We need to show clinical teams that the information they are collecting in the clinical systems they interact with assist in their practice. Following on from this, with the digitisation of health, we need to ensure that the data that is being generated is of good quality, useful and accessible.
What is your “blue sky” vision for the area in the next five years?
The vision for practice analytics aligns with the vision of the NSW Health Analytics Framework which is to transform health through data and insights meaning the health system is a data driven organisation that understand the importance of data and has a culture of using data to make all decisions.
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If you would be interested in being profiled for the Practice Analytics Node of the DHIN please email: jacqueline.wells@sydney.edu.au
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