Rural hospitals face daily challenges such as workforce shortages and lack of resources. Rural hospitals need to find innovative solutions to improve patient outcomes, deliver high-quality care, and ensure long-term financial stability.
Blue Mountain Hospital, a leading rural healthcare provider, has made strides in changing its healthcare landscape using data analytics. Blue Mountain had raw patient data that was not organized and structured. Through collaboration with REDi Health, Blue Mountain has found innovative solutions to the daily challenges that rural hospitals face. They have turned data into an asset to enhance the quality and efficiency of patient care.
“This project gave us tools that save us time and resources so we could focus more on our patients and their families,” says Cari Spillman, compliance director at Blue Mountain Hospital. “It helps our medical staff to make informed, data-driven decisions that will improve patient care outcomes.”
Spillman recalls a patient who was at risk for an infection after surgery. The system flagged the patient chart for a possible surgical site infection. This alerted the surgeon to follow up on the patient promptly. The patient received treatment to avoid infection and was thankful for the immediate actions of the medical staff.
The Office of Primary Care and Rural Health, in collaboration with the Office of Health Equity of the Utah department of Health and Human Services, is supporting 6 rural Utah hospitals in implementing data-driven processes to reduce costs, improve patient care, address geographic-based health disparities, and empowering hospitals with evidence-based decision making tools.
Blue Mountain Hospital, a critical access hospital in Blanding, Utah, is licensed for 11 beds and provides comprehensive healthcare services to the residents and visitors of San Juan County and the surrounding areas. Blue Mountain provides medical services beyond what many expect to find in a rural hospital, including dialysis, obstetrics, emergency care, orthopedics, and more.
REDi Health is a data-driven outcomes improvement services company committed to transforming rural healthcare through innovation and sustainable solutions. REDi utilizes a thorough and hands-on approach to support strategies from inception to execution, all while fostering a best-in-class patient experience.
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