Healthcare Outcomes Keith Fawcett July 6, 2004

The Problem  An educated guess is merely a hypothesis.  A hypothesis is only the start of knowledge.  Qualitative information is needed in order to form valid outcome criteria for patients given a certain set of data.

ICU  Discharge to a lower level of care too early can lead to readmission.  Readmission leads to much lengthier stays and up to a five fold increase in mortality rate.  Need proper timing with discharge to a lower level of care and use of intermediate care units.  We need improved patient outcome models

Information Systems  Much needed to develop improved patient outcomes criteria.  Unfortunately the healthcare industry is decades behind other industries in the use of information systems.  Lack of incentive – Before mid-twentieth century out-of-pocket

Cutting Cost  Leapfrog group: IBM, GM, Boeing etc… pushing to cut costs through IT implementation.  Computerized order entry, complex patients sent to top care, proper credentials.  Clinical, ethical and fiscal issues tackled in the future with information management.