Reducing unwarranted variations in care
Unwarranted clinical variation is not just difficult to reduce—it can also be challenging to identify. When health systems aim to standardize care from team to team and site to site, inconsistencies in complex workflows, data, and processes may not be immediately apparent. Reducing clinical variation is essential for improving patient outcomes, lowering costs, and ensuring equitable care delivery. As these challenges collide with staff shortages and burnout, they underscore the need for a single source of truth that is accessible and easy to implement across the care ecosystem.
Health solutions that provide consolidated, evidence-based clinical information relieve teams from the burden of identifying and implementing standards and best practices. Empowered and informed staff are better prepared to provide high-quality, safe patient care and close the gaps that drive disparities across patient populations. By leveraging trusted technologies that not only standardize care but also identify variations that might otherwise go unnoticed, we are committed to helping health systems deliver the best care everywhere.
The Role of Technology in Reducing Clinical Variation
Technology plays a pivotal role in identifying and minimizing unwarranted clinical variation. Advanced solutions provide the tools necessary to analyze system-wide data, streamline workflows, and embed evidence-based practices directly at the point of care.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and clinical surveillance systems can analyze vast amounts of data to detect patterns and deviations from established protocols. This allows healthcare organizations to proactively identify areas of inconsistency and intervene before they impact patient care. For instance, integrated clinical surveillance platforms can monitor everything from antimicrobial stewardship to opioid prescriptions, ensuring adherence to best practices and regulatory requirements. As noted in our expert insights, digital health platforms can set standards for value-based care by embedding content that helps reduce care variation. By consolidating insights and providing a unified view of performance, these tools empower leaders to refine quality projects, reduce costs, and ultimately improve patient safety and outcomes across the entire health system.
