January 19, 1999

At the Jan. 19 communications meeting a representative from HBSI spoke to the management team. HBSI specializes in data collection and comparison to help organizations identify performance improvement opportunities.

We are a member of the University HealthSystem Consortium, or UHC, which contracts with HBSI to support its operations improvement program. HBSI replaces MECON, which previously provided similar services to UHC and its members. We are in a learning phase with the HBSI reports. We have received two quarters of data. Reports are generated 10 weeks following the close of a quarter. The frequency and timely turnaround of the reports is an improvement over our past experience. The reports offer a wide variety of comparisons and groupings that we can use for different purposes.

The entire management team needs to help us assess the HBSI reports to ensure we compare “apples to apples.” The reports are relatively easy to understand, but it will take some time to learn how to take full advantage of the information. Our goal is for the management team and employees to use the HBSI data as a valuable performance improvement tool.

W. Stuart Smith, Interim Vice President for Clinical Operations Interim CEO, MUSC Medical Center

Virus Busters

• David Northrup, director of Healthcare Systems CCIT, announced the existence of the first widespread computer virus, which affected approximately 300 PCs on the MUSC campus. Northrup noted that Bill Rust, manager of Healthcare Network Services CCIT, has been coordinating efforts to resolve the virus problem. Please contact Rust at 792-3403 if you need additional assistance.
• Northrup noted that the timing of the virus unfortunately coincided with a troublesome GroupWise system upgrade, which interrupted GroupWise access for many users. Fortunately, the virus and the system upgrade problem did not affect ClinLAN95 PCs, due to an improved set-up.
• Northrup praised more than a dozen staff members who worked around the clock and through the weekend to remedy these problems. Northrup and his team will continue to implement measures to try to outsmart future viruses.

HBSI Update

• Kelly Burkett from HBSI explained how her organization will help us gather and compare data with other facilities. HBSI collects data from approximately 450 hospitals, including 52 UHC members.
• The HBSI reports rely upon various data sources, including the general ledger (revenue and expenses), payroll system (worked and paid hours) and the patient accounting/registration system (discharges, patient days, transfers).
• Reports are generated quarterly and provide information to support performance improvement, budgeting, cost reduction and identification of best performance practices.
• The HBSI reports offer internal and external trend analysis and have the ability to “drill down” to detailed department level data.
• HBSI makes master comparisons for all participating facilities; additionally, HBSI can customize reports to share data with specifically identified peers.
• The Medical Center point person for the HBSI reports is Pamela Marek, decision support analyst for Hospital Fiscal Services. Managers are encouraged to contact Marek at 792-8793 to schedule meetings to review the HBSI process.