Tools to measure, monitor, and analyse the performance of the Geneva university hospitals (HUG)

ABSTRACT

Hospitals are highly complex environments, and performance measurement requires multidimensional dashboards to provide all stakeholders with the tools to improve the quality of care as well as administrative and clinical processes. This article shows how the architecture of the HUG decision support environment has evolved to a productive, sustainable, and scalable business intelligence ecosystem. Designed in alignment with the strategy of the institution, it is aimed at providing actionable information and a range of analytical tools useful to all medical and administrative staff involved in the control of the costs and in the improvement of the quality of care. The routinely use of these tools helps for the detection of critical situations, the implementation of corrective measures and the monitoring of the overall improvement processes. This article describes the experience of the HUG after more than ten years of implementing hospital-wide decision support tools, which use have become part of the routine of more than 1ʹ000 hospital staff members.

KEYWORDS:

• Decision support systems
• performance measurement
• health indicators
• business intelligence

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Claudine Bréant

Ms. Claudine Bréant received her Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Paris Pierre & Marie Curie. From 1989 to 1996, she was at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), as Post-doctoral fellow and then as Member of technical staff, working on various research projects in the area of picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), and hospital information systems (HIS).  Dr. C. Bréant joined the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG) medical informatics division in 1996, as a project leader for clinical information systems, clinical data warehouses, and decision support tools. Since 2012, she is managing the HUG business intelligence division, part of the financial department.

Laurent Succi

Mr. Laurent Succi holds a master's degree in artificial intelligence and databases. After 12 years of business intelligence and information systems architecture consulting, Mr. Succi joined the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG) in 2005. He is now responsible for the architecture and development of the unified decision-making system of the HUG.

Michel Cotten

Mr. Michel Cotten is a senior IT developer with an expertise of more than 30 years in the area of computer system development, data base systems, data warehouse modelling, and business intelligence. Before joining the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG) in 2003, he co-founded and directed an IT consulting company in the early 1990’s. He currently works on projects for the implementation of tools for the monitoring of the patient billing process and the design of management indicators.

Stéphane Grimaud

Mr. Stéphane Grimaud holds a master's degree in computer science from the University of Tours (France). He is a Business Objects and QlikView/Qlik Sense senior expert with a 15 years background as a business intelligence consultant. He joined the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG) three years ago and is currently responsible for the development of dashboards for monitoring the quality of care.

Jimison Iavindrasana

Mr. Jimison Iavindrasana received his Ph.D. in data analysis and machine learning from the University of Geneva in 2010, and a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Paris Descartes in 2005.Dr. J. Iavindrasana joined the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG) in 2006, as a project leader for the development of clinical information systems, clinical data warehouses, and decision support tools. He is also specialised in statistics, data mining, machine learning, and information system architecture.

Maria Kindstrand

Ms. Maria Kindstrand graduated from the University of Lund (Sweden) with a degree in information systems and business administration, before working for the European laboratory for particle physics. After a few years as a senior business analyst consultant for Elca SA she joined the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG) in 2004. Her current position consists of driving balance score card projects. She has recently gained a diploma as Certified Business Analyst with IIBA.

Florian Mauvais

Mr. Florian Mauvais graduated in 2007 with an engineering degree in Health IT from Grenoble, France. He joined the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG) in 2009 and currently works as a senior analyst for the development of decision support systems and performance measurement tools. He has a strong background in data warehouse modelling and specialised in the development of clinical dashboards for the emergency department, for the radiology department, and for the monitoring of surgical activities.

Brigitte Rorive-Feytmans

Ms. Brigitte Rorive Feytmans holds a doctorate in strategy and management of organisations. She is specialised in change management and networked organisations. After an international career as a business development consultant and management researcher, she joined the University Hospitals of Geneva in 2006. As Director of Projects and Organization, she coordinated a three-year efficiency operation, set up and supported strategic projects (dashboards, patient flow, and process optimization, reduction of waiting times, fair prescription, and optimisation of technical boards). In 2010, she created and managed a new department, Medical and Economic Analysis, with the mission of developing economic intelligence within the HUG. Since 2013, she has been in charge of the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG) finance department, which includes the administrative management of the patient, invoicing and pricing, budgetary and accounting management, as well as the analysis and monitoring of medico-economic performance.