MHS introduces new health care data tool for users

The Military Health System introduced an online display tool that quickly allows users to access health care performance data automatically compiled by its MHS Insight decision support tool.

The MHS Values Dashboard, announced Oct. 24, displays data on an enterprise basis for more than 50 health care service performance measures developed for MHS Insight. Insight allows clinical managers to visualize performance data to help meet MHS health care performance goals.

Registered MHS Insight users are also able to drill down to study data at the facility and clinic level.

The solution was introduced after extensive vetting of security, privacy, and quality assurance issues, said Dr. Michael Dinneen, director of MHS’s Office of Strategy Management.

There are currently 350 registered MHS Insight users, most of them in the Navy. Dinneen estimates there are 3,000 to 4,000 MHS employees who could eventually be interested in becoming MHS Insight users.

“The Navy has been using MHS Insight to do performance reviews for past year,” said Dinneen. “Other users in the Army and Air Force are also beginning to express interest in what data is available.”

One of the performance measures reflected on the dashboard is the likelihood a patient will be able to see his assigned primary care provider. “We regard continuity of care as a good indicator of quality and satisfaction,” said Dinneen.

This data is automatically generated through the AHLTA electronic appointing function and reports are generated on a weekly basis.

Another performance measure tracks the availability of appointments for acute care within 24 hours.

Dinneen said MHS’s plan is to load MHS Insight data to the dashboard for 80 percent of its 50-plus performance measures by the end of the year. He acknowledged, however, that manpower shortages, as well as lingering data quality and patient privacy issues represent obstacles to the achievement of that goal.