The healthcare industry continues to strive for safer care and better outcomes – but simply trying harder is not going to appreciably move the dial. You have to have the systems in place to facilitate communication across risk, quality, and safety to get a complete and timely picture of what’s happening.

When patient-safety and clinical data are housed in separate systems that can’t talk to each other, it’s easy to miss signs that may seem insignificant alone, but together add up to big problems. And aggregating the data for that full view can be so labor-intensive, it might only get done once per quarter – or when something severe occurs. At that point, the information could be so outdated that a once-preventable sentinel event might already have happened.

Software Connects the Dots

Today’s healthcare leaders are rallying behind patient safety and recognizing the value of sharing information across all disciplines. They are looking for ways to work together more effectively and efficiently to ensure their healthcare systems are delivering safe, high-quality patient care while minimizing risk. And many are turning to software as the key to connecting all the dots.

New RMIS software helps you get in front of issues before they become claims. By bringing together claims, insurance, legal, financial, and safety/clinical data, the software bridges the gap between risk, quality, and safety to make sure crucial signs and patterns are not overlooked – which is especially critical for large, complex risk management programs.

A holistic picture facilitates collaboration on overlapping issues and fosters a closer working relationship between the three disciplines to improve patient safety across the continuum of care. And no duplication of effort means fewer resources can get more done.

Better alignment with patient-safety initiatives also helps risk, quality, and safety focus on their distinct functions. Each department gets quick access to current and historical data and to sophisticated analytical tools – all from one secure platform. And it’s easier to stay in compliance with software that tracks each step of an action plan and automatically sends follow-up emails to the appropriate party.

What to Look For

The best software understands the unique data requirements and workflows of each department and brings it all together for one consistent, accurate picture of what’s going on. The software also should offer:

  • When you’re dealing with patient information, security is of paramount importance.
  • Make sure the software allows the right people to easily access the data they need – with tight restrictions to protect sensitive information.
  • Healthcare RMIS software can cover a range of related activities, such as incident intake, claims administration, and root cause analysis. Look for a platform that allows you to start with what you need now and bolt on other capabilities as necessary.

Being able to manage risks proactively instead of reactively will likely reduce your claims, litigation, and workers’ compensation costs. But the real value lies in the software’s ability to help you deliver the best care in the safest environment.