The C3 Framework: The New Frontier In Health Data Analytics
By Kurt Garbe, IMAT Solutions
Healthcare organizations need to have true confidence in their data, which is the foundation for all care, reporting, financial, and compliance efforts. However, it’s no secret that the healthcare arena is challenged when it comes to accessing and leveraging that data.
This often comes down to health data not being fully comprehensive, clean or current. Untimely, incomplete and inaccurate data provides a convoluted picture that makes it nearly impossible to make sound decisions.
This is where the new C3 framework comes into play, which is based on the concept that all data should be C1) Comprehensive; C2) Clean; and C3) Current.
C3 takes its inspiration from the Triple Aim concept of health data. Developed by the Institute for Health Improvement (IHI), Triple Aim is a framework for optimizing health system performance by improving the experience of care; improving the health of populations; and reducing the per capita costs of healthcare. The new C3 framework can allow any care organization to have the confidence they need in their data.
Following is how the C3 framework brings the Triple Aim concept to life, as well as how it provides a concise and proven methodology to evaluate the ability of an organization to deliver quality health data.
C1: Comprehensive
Hospital systems, ACOs, payers and HIEs are often challenged with knowing and leveraging all of their data. Essentially, is their data fully comprehensive?
This can be a difficult question, as many care organizations only focus only on the structured data. As a result, critical content found within the EHR notes field, historical charted data, transcriptions, radiology notes and more, are often left on the cutting-room floor.
Requirements for having comprehensive data are also much higher today – and the stakes have been raised. Funding and penalties can result from not ensuring that all health data is fully comprehensive.
By having the most comprehensive data, it is possible to have insights into the full care continuum of care and enhance overall operational efficiencies.
C2: Clean
Whether it’s structured or unstructured data, care organizations need to operate with all clinical and research data being full cleansed, normalized and optimized. However, not all hospital systems fully know if their data is as clean as possible.
The reality is that health data is continually evolving and expanding – leading to challenges to keep current data fully clean. Hospital systems, HIEs, payers and ACOs are continually challenged in this arena – especially with new incoming data arriving on a daily and hourly basis.
Data that is continually cleansed can provide clarity and supports the overall care and financial mission for any organization.
C3: Current
Just as the game has changed with comprehensive data, the same can be said about accessing and leveraging current data – it’s now a “must have.” With a wide-range of data sources, keeping all health data current can be a significant challenge, which also includes accessing historical data.
For example, hospital systems cannot rely on old claims data. With the proliferation of facilities and specialty treatments, care organizations also need to have all data be fully current, integrated and accessible for driving all decision-making.
The Process: Bringing All Three C’s Together
Achieving true data confidence is an ongoing process. By having all three pillars of the C3 framework operating in support of each other, all health data will truly live up to its potential.
Once your data becomes fully comprehensive, then it’s time to move to it being clean and current – and the process continues in a circular motion.
As the power of data continues to grow in the healthcare arena, this new framework can help any organization best manage data for delivering accountable and informed care. But, in order to fully attain the C3 vision, today’s care organizations need to take a fresh look at their current data analytics efforts.
Data confidence may be more of a perception than a reality. The right partners and solutions can help guide you on the path to truly having comprehensive, clean and current data.
About The Author:
Kurt Garbe is the CEO of IMAT Solutions, a leader in delivering innovative, real-time, healthcare data management and population health reporting solutions. For more information about IMAT Solutions, please click here.