Strategy

Strategic governance systems are mechanisms to evaluate efficiency, quality, innovation and customer responsiveness within a company. They are the only true tool to accomplish this. Observations, anecdotes, opinions, and emotions, although frequently used, do not accomplish anything real. The only way to ensure managers consistently act with the vision and goals of the organization is to use strategic governance systems listed below.

• Establish standards and targets against which performance is measured
• Create systems for measuring and monitoring performance on a regular basis
• Compare actual performance against established targets
• Evaluate results and take corrective action if necessary

The primary concept behind Imaging Fusion’s development began since strategic governance systems are not in place in most medical imaging facilities. Unfortunately today’s hospital targets are only internal targets. Imaging Fusion’s ProFusion software provides strategic governance features. Imaging Fusion’s ultimate goal is to use national targets so internal performance is consistently measured against established national targets helping reduce significant waste in American. healthcare.

Hospitals and imaging centers now collect a multitude of performance indicators; mostly clinical. The theory is to monitor the performance indicators, and take corrective action as needed. The common practice is to monitor the performance indicators, report them to an internal quality committee and repeat again next month. Many administrators feel obligated to over-populate their dashboard with meaningless metrics diluting its purpose as a problem-solving tool. Most performance dashboards indicators are reported as “within compliance”. Most performance indicators are clinical indicators which do not provide a bridge to the financial implications. The result is resources are spent on monitoring many indicator(s) which may outweigh the financial impact of measuring them.

For example – a facility spends $1000/month of salaries to collect, investigate and report all ER patients waiting longer than one hour for a CT exam. The investigation frequently provides a legitimate reason:

• waiting for pregnancy test
• vomited first dose of oral contrast
• needed EKG
• CT scanning another patient, etc.

These are not actionable-items and change is not recommended or feasible. Reporting that indicator costs $12,000/year. Robotically reporting performance indicators which do not require an action item is meaningless. Imaging Fusion believes we should monitor meaningful indicators. Imaging Fusion manages what normally occurs, rather than manage by exception.

There are hundreds of imaging indicators used in this country. Unfortunately, we have yet to gain consensus and agree on one set of indicators. ProFusion captures only six key performance indicators (KPI’s). The ProFusion KPI’s are high-level, umbrella indicators, which combine the hundreds of detailed KPIs now being collected. When any one of the ProFusion indicators shows a significant variance from the facility target or industry standard, the investigation begins. ProFusion demonstrates the problem and provides the drill-down workflow so a facility can further identify, isolate the cause and ultimately begin the process improvements.

Rather than blindly rely on one imaging manager’s experience ProFusion provides all levels of management with a simple dashboard depicting how their imaging department ranks against their internal targets and national standards in six areas. A monthly, weekly, or daily click on an icon, opens up a simple dashboard showing six performance dials. One dial may show your facility is spending 25% more than the industry standard.   We believe  you and your CFO welcome this information. Currently facilites only have internal targets to reach for.