Advancing Analytics in the NHS #
Defining strategic analytics and career pathways for healthcare analysts
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Characteristics of a high functioning analytical team #
- Is clear that their key role is to enhance the quality of the decision making process
- Has critical problem formulation skills- to help them engage with decision makers to ensure the right questions are being addressed
- Is technically proficient across the range of analytical project ‘types’ and able to apply these to the questions at hand
- Is aware of its own limitations and establishes collaborative partnerships to supplement this
- Is able to influence the decision-making processes by providing reliable, relevant, well communicated analyses to decision makers to ensure decision quality
- Is dedicated to research and sharing knowledge; producing replicable work and evidencing new ways of working
- Is well-versed in the healthcare context in which it operates
Analytical projects typology #
flowchart TB PS(Problem structuring) DM(Data management) subgraph Analysis DA(Descriptive analytics) EA(Explicative analytics) PA(Predictive analytics) PRA(Prescriptive analytics) EVA(Evaluative analytics) end PS-->DM DM-->Analysis Analysis-->CR(Communicating results) CR-->DQ(Enhancing decision quality)
Example projects by type #
Descriptive #
- Exploring mental health inpatient capacity
- Health service use in the last two years of life
- Population Health Management to identify and characterise ongoing health need for high-risk individuals shielded from COVID-19: a cross-sectional cohort study
Explicative #
Prescriptive #
- Modelling the impact of COVID on waiting lists for planed care
- Nowcasting for improved management of COVID-19 acute bed capacity