Health Sector Statistics

We all know that statistics centers around several significant essential elements, including gathering data, assessing the sort of data collected, interpreting the data, and ultimately employing it for a variety of objectives.

When it comes to the healthcare industry, including the numerous services provided by health sciences and institutions, statistics has a role to play. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics are the two main subcategories of statistics. The illustration discusses the methods used to categorize or describe data in accordance with a specified specification. The data used in inferential statistics are sampled data that are then applied to a particular field. Health care organizations use mostly the descriptive statistics. It is used to assist them to conduct a summary of the utility of the products used, how efficient they are and analysis of the measure of the performance of the system. Hospitals and any other organization that works to ensure that health facilities are assured entirely depend on the statistics to show them how they are pushing on with the hope of actualization of the mission and the vision. The overall performance of hospitals is well measured through the use of several statistical data.

When it comes to utilization of health care services and products, statistical information and methods are deployed. The relevant personnel gathers information to help them collect samples on human population and be able to work with the example to give details of a larger community. The demographic statistics collected show various aspects such as age, sex, race, personal incomes, and disabilities among others. From this type of information, one can tell what kind of hospitals people attend, how affordable the health services are and personal beliefs according to individual’s race or the spiritual background. Statistics is also majorly used when people are determining the total expenses and the overall expenditure used to run the services of the hospital.

In government hospitals, the total cost is significant because it ensures that the resources are well utilized and managed and that there are only a few surplus expenses which are kept for emergency purposes. The expenditure becomes easy to be planned and fixed in the government’s annual budget. Therefore, bringing us to the core value of the use of statistics which is to overlook on the health care services and evaluate the expenses used to ensure that the products and the medicine used are enough to all.

In the health sector, something else which is of great essence is how to allocate the limited and available resources, in order also brings in the use of statistics. It is important to rely on statistics when allocating funds and resources. Considering various factors such as the geographical location, size, population, sicknesses treated among other factors. It is a different budget when dealing with different cases. (Santerre & Neun, 2006). An example is that a hospital of level five does not have the same budget as that of a lower level because a hospital of the standards of level five deals with critical illnesses that call for much attention. A hospital that has a large number of people needs a lot of finances which is not required in hospitals that have smaller populations. Statistics applies here for one to be able to ascertain what funds to use and how to break them down.

Quality improvement is yet a third factor that calls for the application of statistics when it comes to the health sector. In hospitals, the improvements noted include accommodating a larger population of patients, treating a large number of patients, improving facilities such as the level of illnesses handled and the number of patents that get medication. Minimal death cases for patients brought to the hospitals is also another thing termed as an improvement. Collecting data over a period, analyzing that data collected and finally interpreting that data shows how the hospital is doing, as either recorded as an increase or a failure. Therefore, taking us back to the point where we show that statistics define the improvement in the quality of services offered.

Product development. Medicine works with innovativeness. An individual drug can be used by several patients and noted to show a very positive change towards a large number of patients. Another dose can be utilized and seen to affect a large number of patients negatively. Therefore, calls for a shift in the usage of an individual drug due to an analysis conducted on the reaction of a particular drug to different kind of patients. Through the analysis done, in other words, statistics, an individual drug is preferred and later on used to compromise the rest.

Lean Six Sigmas

Lean six sigma means to the health sector, which entails learning to do away with any defect that brings about the difference between life and death. The key stages of the implementation of the lean six sigma include definition, measurement, conducting an analysis, improving the quality of services and finally controlling the challenges that might lead to a broken system. (Kimberlee Haskins. 2002)

According to Kimberly and Bradley, the lean six sigma recommendations work and more specifically when it comes to the health sector. In the health services, it is common for everyone to arrive in health centers and also leave but it is different regarding the facilities and services accessed by various patients and the mode and kind of treatments that they receive. The most important thing is to ensure that all patients that arrive in the centers get treatments and are later on dispatched. (Kimberly & Bradley, 2016)

Application of lean six sigma has been noted to be very useful in a various healthcare organization. Examples of areas where the lean six sigma was used and was seen to have great improvements include. Firstly, a hospital which recorded an increase in the number of patients accommodated. Previously, the hospital used one and a half hours to complete one turnover of operating rooms for hips and also knees replacements. Through the use of lean tools such as value stream maps, assessment of wastes and quick changeover, the hospital reduced the turnover time to half an hour. That way, the hospital was now able to accommodate more patients because the rooms were lesser occupied than the previous time.

Secondly, a different hospital in New Jersey used the Six Sigma program with the aim of boosting its operations. They came up with a project to enhance and increase the number of cases of heart failure treatment and the treatment period from six to four days and improve the consistency. Scenarios of congestion were hence decreased. Thirdly, a hospital in Rhode Island successfully used Six Sigma technique and changed the management to standardize the procedures of operations and later on the outcome was an increase in the rates of implantation.

Lastly, a certain clinic had been identified to lose a lot of dollars as a result of inconsistent supplies of medicines. They, later on, deployed the lean technique of two bin replenishment which later on assisted them to reduce the costs of medical supplies for each month and ensure a consistent supply of medicines. (Kimberly & Bradley, 2016)

These examples have shown how the use of statistics in health care is necessary and how the Lean Six Sigma program is of great importance. It is demonstrated using examples how the health sector was significantly improved through the examples listed above. In conclusion, we can state that the Six Sigma improves various processes and helps them to have a more resilient and flexible organization that can ensure quick response and particularly in an environment like that of the health sector.

tatistical Methods to Apply in The Health Sector

Statistical methods revolve around ways that entail the collection of data, conducting a summary and an analysis and finally interpreting the information into useful data. According to Frederick and Ruggeri talks about the application of statistical methodologies with the aim of coming up with the best alternatives for improving the performance of health services. The book also speaks of the methods used in the medical department particularly in areas of planning, delivering and also monitoring health care plus also the statistical aspects of development in coming up with the production of drugs and other medical devices. (Frederick and Ruggeri, 2012)

Some of the modern statistical methods that are listed as the best applicable with the aim of improving the health sector are listed. Seamless design, Data mining, Bayesian networks, Bootstrapping and Adaptive Design are among very many others that can be applied but are weighed as the best when it comes to this particular department.

The Biblical worldview coincides with various aspects mentioned in the methods used in the health sector and also in statistics. Firstly, the goal of medicine is found out to be to diagnose sickness and finally treat and preserve life. It is regarded as a relief of suffering. Isaiah advised Hezekiah to put poultice to his boil. He later on he recovered.

Secondly, God is the Healer. During the time of Moses, there were several instances of various illnesses that affected the Israelites. After a particular survey, which could be referred to as Data Mining, Moses was able to recognize what disease they were suffering from and then healed them through the power bestowed upon him by God.

References

Frederick Faltin, Ron S. Kennett and Fabrizio Ruggeri (2012). Statistical Methods in Healthcare: Application of statistical methodologies.

Kimberlee Haskins. (1991) Director of organizational development, Mercy Medical Centre and Cedar Rapids show what lean six sigmas means to the health sector. The retrieved year 2006

Kimberly Watson-Hemphill and Kristine Nissen Bradley (2016). Innovating Lean Six Sigma: Lean Six Sigma Program.

Rexford Santerre and Stephen Neun. (1996), Health Economics: Theories, Insights and Industry studies. The retrieved year 2002