In this section:

IT Infrastructure/Tools

A maze of networks, servers, platforms, data centers, intranets, websites and other technologies enable Texas Health to securely and quickly engage with consumers, employees, departments and other entities to share vital and privacy-protected business and clinical information. Each year, we invest in enhancing and securing these systems, which helps us operate more efficiently and affordably. We also deploy several tools to help consumers save time and access necessary information.

Some of our systemwide platforms include:

• CareConnect One, our electronic health record that provides accurate, timely and complete patient information and images at the point of care.
• An enterprise resource planning system, which connects human resources, supply chain and financial management resources.

2022 Highlights

Texas Health:

• Provided the infrastructure and support to launch Texas Health Care at Home, which offers follow-up care at home for qualified patients.
• Installed IT networks and equipment at new and expanded Texas Health facilities.
• Rolled out a non-invasive cardiology section of our electronic health record that helps cardiologists access studies, EKG, imaging results and other critical information in one place.

Databases

We build and maintain various databases to capture and store essential business and clinical data in accordance with privacy regulations. Pooling this information allows us to secure and update records better, providing analysts with more consistent and accurate information. Some examples include:

• A data catalog that captures and stores systemwide data assets in one central location. This allows analysts to quickly determine what data exists (and is still needed), who owns it and how often it is refreshed. The data also can be used to make calculations, forecasts or other types of analysis.
• A provider database that exchanges vital information about healthcare providers on the medical staff at Texas Health facilities. It allows staff across the system and consumers to access current and accurate information faster.
• Our Consumer 360 database, which collects data on consumer touchpoints with Texas Health to help us deliver personalized care.

We leverage data in our databases and those from other trusted sources to fuel the analytical insights we need to drive improvements.

Analytics

We’re using innovative artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to become a more effective, efficient and agile organization and drive better, faster decision-making. We use data, analytical models, predictive analytics, AI and machine learning to help us benchmark performance, make accessing care more seamless, reduce costs and improve efficiencies.

2022 Highlights

Texas Health:

• Retained Gartner® to conduct an independent maturity assessment of the system’s data and analytics capabilities. The study examined how evolved our capabilities were in the areas of strategy, people, governance and technology. Texas Health scored 4 out of 5, exceeding Gartner’s industry benchmark of 2-.
• Optimized 25 digital channels to create a consistent experience for consumers seeking information, providers or appointments. 
• Enhanced our data governance protocols to continue complying with privacy regulations.
• Strengthened data literacy, which helps system leaders make sense of vast data sets to inform their actions to improve clinical and operational outcomes.   

Dashboards

Our analytics team creates online dashboards to help departments monitor inventory, performance and other key measures in near-real-time to drive intelligent decision-making. For example, teams can monitor safety near-misses, staffing availability, patient volumes, supply consumption and more. This helps them address potential risks before they escalate, reduce costs and optimize performance.

2022 Highlights

Texas Health:

• Added more than 45 system dashboards that display near-real-time business and clinical insights that help leaders spot trends, make decisions and optimize performance.

Data Exchanges

Texas Health is part of a national healthcare collaborative that pools de-identified consumer data (which removes direct identifiers to protect privacy) to analyze and address shared healthcare challenges, such health inequities. The combined data allows participating health systems to build more accurate machine-learning models that will help improve care and outcomes.

Additionally, we participate in several statewide health information exchange services that give healthcare providers secure access to patients’ health information to coordinate their continued care quickly and effectively.

Snapshot: Lab Dashboard Unveiling Transformative Insights Texas Health’s Laboratory Services leaders are responsible for: Making the appropriate amount of lab tests, assays and reagents available to help physicians accurately diagnose hundreds of thousands of people annually. Tracking fluctuating volumes of patients and supplies, which vary by season, hospital and the demographics of people needing care. Hiring and deploying the optimal number of laboratory professionals and phlebotomists to quickly collect and analyze lab samples. Identifying and preventing duplicative lab orders and monitoring how often lab results are contaminated or invalid – and why. For years, the team has relied on disparate computer systems, outdated reporting and tedious processes to plan for and monitor these activities across all Texas Health hospitals and outpatient labs. This made it difficult and time-consuming to optimize all areas of the department. After getting costly estimates from third-party vendors to develop a software solution that would automate these processes and calculate multiple data points, the team decided to build their own. In collaboration with Texas Health’s business intelligence experts, they spent 15 months designing, building and testing a dashboard that gives them immediate visibility into multiple aspects of lab operations. After the dashboard went live in 2022, Laboratory Services now has the real-time data to make intelligent, cost-effective decisions that drive improvements. For example, they can quickly: Calculate if there is sufficient patient volume to warrant ordering expensive tests. Reassign personnel to facilities on the days and times that are the busiest or predict staffing needs for the coming month. Measure lab turnaround times to expedite treatment plans and improve patient care. Monitor performance by lab location to address areas of underachievement or to share best practices across the system. Examine physician ordering patterns to reduce the costly duplication of tests. While implemented for just a short time, lab leaders have seen significant cost savings from optimizing staffing and inventory.