Analytics in Ophthalmology

Some ophthalmology practices focus on perceived operational priorities without basing decisions on data or even understanding what to measure. Clear objectives, accurate data, and consistent review are required to align a practice’s clinical, financial, and operational goals.

In this article, Jay Greiling draws on more than 30 years of experience in business development to discuss the effective implementation of strategic analytics.

Tracy J. Kenniff, MBA, OCS

This article provides a brief overview of analytics in ophthalmology. A surge in private equity investments in the ophthalmology market during the past 12 years led to the emergence of large eye care groups and management services organizations. In the same time frame, the developers of electronic health record (EHR) software have released new tools and reporting services to assist with providers’ analytics needs and improve practice management offerings.

Despite rapid advances in analytics technology, including the integration of AI and other accelerators for programming and data monitoring, EHR platforms fall short of meeting the needs of executive practice teams. EHR analytics service remains templated and designed with fixed analytic views (ie, frameworks for understanding key performance metrics). Changes require downloading and customizing the data, and this task often demands a level of programming knowledge and skill obtainable only by attending the company’s training sessions. 

Based on my experience in the eye care sector, unless your practice thoroughly explores the available tools, your EHR system is unlikely to provide the insights required to navigate an ever-changing and challenging health care landscape.

CUSTOMIZED SOLUTIONS 

Options are available to enhance your organization’s view and management of operations. Several new companies recently entered the field of operational analytics in eye care. One that I work with, Parable Associates, offers a cost-effective approach and cutting-edge technology. 

AN ANALYTICS-DRIVEN MANAGEMENT TEAM 

Expertise 

Ensure your practice has expertise in the area of analytics and data science, whether in the form of an internal source or an outside provider.

Ownership

Ensure from the start that you own the analytics programs that you create and use.

Many analytics service providers serve clients with the provider’s proprietary software and offerings. In this situation, you would lose the technology that you spent years building with them if you transition to another provider. The company—not you—would own your tool. 

A Trustworthy Partner 

As the field of technology grows, a single provider is unlikely to own all the answers your practice needs. Your partnership with an analytics service provider should not stand in the way of adding another source for the working tools your practice needs. Anyone you partner with should have outside resources they can bring to your collaboration.

A Verifiable Track Record

Choose an analytics provider willing to refer you to practices that will talk with you about their experiences working with that provider. 

WHERE THINGS ARE HEADING 

Insight into best practices for premium refractive cataract procedures is needed. Several companies are using AI to develop analytics software that can improve the patient consultation on the premium choices for cataract and refractive surgery. Human interaction, however, remains essential to building patient trust. The goal is to use AI-supported analytics to monitor which parts of the consultation work and which do not. 

CONCLUSION

If you are currently using only the practice management reporting systems delivered by your EHR software, I would strongly encourage you to develop an analytics-driven business plan. Choose a partner that can help your practice move forward. Consider AI tools and technologies that can increase your practice’s productivity and use analytic views to deliver daily insights.