From slow, manual reporting to instant, automated processes

Supporting large healthcare organizations means managing a constant stream of data. Turning that data into meaningful, timely insights can be a daily challenge.

For one Massachusetts-based physician consultation and support group, the growing need for custom reporting, fast turnaround times, and reliable data access began to stretch their existing processes. Their team was committed to delivering value to their clinical partners, but manual workflows, siloed systems, and mounting reporting requirements made it increasingly difficult to keep up.

They knew it was time to evolve, and they partnered with athenahealth’s advisory Services Informatics for athenaIDX to take their reporting capabilities to the next level.

Difficulty parsing data in a data-driven world

Before implementing Informatics, this physician support group felt their reporting capabilities were both time-consuming and ultimately inadequate to yield the kinds of meaningful, actionable insights they desired.

Retrieving data across various sources was tedious and labor-intensive, and they often experienced delays in obtaining critical information for business analyses. Discrepancies in naming conventions between reporting systems caused confusion and difficulties in interpreting data, and they experienced a lack of collaboration for data vendor partners, making it difficult to learn more. Compounding this, they lacked automated report distribution capability, so the data they were ultimately able to gather and analyze was disseminated more slowly than they preferred.

Without timely access to meaningful insights, this organization found themselves unable to make data-driven decisions to address operational challenges at scale.

athenahealth’s Informatics reporting solution enhances reporting capabilities and streamlines distribution

The Informatics reporting solution addressed all of their major challenges, and then some. Enhanced reporting leveraging business intelligence (BI) allowed the group to create more robust and streamlined reports, significantly improving the quality and timeliness of insights available for decision-making.

The introduction of advanced dashboard functionalities enabled users to drill down and filter data effectively, catering to various analytical needs and preferences. The new system automated the distribution of over 1,000 reports monthly into designated network folders, organized by groups, divisions, departments, hospitals, and providers.

The team designed the system to update data daily by 7:00 a.m., providing staff and leadership with access to data every day. Additionally, the introduction of consistent naming conventions simplified the identification of fields within the reporting system, reducing confusion and facilitating smoother data management.

With this new automation in place, they saw incredible results: 
-    Over 1,000 providers and administrators now receive automated reports on the first of each month. This provides access to critical information for stakeholders while reducing the administrative burden of manual report preparation and distribution.*
-    Removing manual processing and report creation eliminated 100 hours of work per month in the reporting department. This allows staff to focus on higher-value tasks, such as patient care and strategic initiatives, improving productivity overall.
-    This reduction in manual work led to a 40% increase in efficiency, allowing for more timely decision-making and enhanced responsiveness to patient needs.*
-    Consolidating multiple reporting solutions into a single, comprehensive system reduced operational expenses and simplified support requirements.
-    Improved dashboards and drill-down capabilities have increased engagement and satisfaction among end users.
-    The availability of advanced reporting capabilities has empowered the organization to launch strategic initiatives based on data insights to achieve business objectives.

The CEO of the group shared his thoughts about the service: “Informatics has dramatically enhanced our ability to utilize reports to identify issues quickly and easily, which has improved our overall performance in maximizing revenue. Additionally, by partnering with the Informatics team, we have customized customer-facing report packets that show them exactly what they need to see in a way that is easy to understand and digest.”  

Explore how Informatics can solve your reporting challenges

Implementing athenahealth’s Advisory Services Informatics at this organization illustrates the transformative power of data to address complex reporting challenges. By leveraging Informatics’ expert consultants and tailored solutions, they enhanced their operational efficiency, improved financial performance, and fostered stronger relationships with stakeholders.

If your organization is facing similar challenges and looking for ways to optimize reporting processes and improve decision-making, learn more about athenaIDX. If you’re already an athenaIDX  customer, ask your Customer Success Manager about Informatics. Together, we can navigate the complexities of healthcare and drive meaningful change for your organization.