Healthcare Practice

Healthcare organizations face many significant challenges today including acute financial pressures, increasing competition, human resource shortages, patient safety concerns, and growth in healthcare consumption. Overcoming these challenges requires innovative and robust solutions to achieve sustainable improvement and superior performance. Over the last 50 years, Gallup developed a series of healthcare-specific, research-based solutions to assist healthcare leaders in addressing this ever-changing environment. While each of these solutions provides improved performance, combining them into an integrated and aligned suite of initiatives provides exponential results.

The Gallup HealthSuite is a synchronized approach to measuring and improving performance in healthcare organizations. This approach includes key metrics and consulting solutions to address the critical success factors in the healthcare industry.

It is important to understand how the right metrics, when used effectively, predict great performance. After years of statistical analysis and predictive modeling, The Gallup Organization developed the gold standard in healthcare measures for all key stakeholders. Each of the sets of metrics in the HealthSuite components have been refined to the core set of items that predict improved financial, operational, and clinical outcomes. And while the right metrics are critical to any improvement program, action and accountability are necessary to achieve the organization's goals. At least once during each year, a balanced scorecard analysis and executive planning session is conducted with a senior Gallup Healthcare consultant to ensure that sustainable improvement is being achieved across the organization.

Gallup's HealthSuite approach to "Building Better Healthcare"

Gallup's approach to "Building Better Healthcare" follows the systematic methodology commonly used in contemporary improvement programs like Six Sigma and Lean Thinking -- Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control (DMAIC). Each of the HealthSuite components follows the DMAIC process to ensure that improvements are well planned, based on sound data and analysis, and that performance is maintained for sustainable outcomes. Key steps in the DMAIC approach for each HealthSuite component include:

• Define: Planning, Training, Culture Building. With each program, a Gallup consultant works with the executive team to integrate the initiative into other strategic activities. Key individuals receive training on the measurement program and how to take action based on the analyses.
  
• Measure/Analyze: Measurement and Analysis of data provides leaders with critical insight into data patterns and specific opportunities for improvement.
  
• Improve: Impact Training and Coaching. Once analyses are completed, data are reviewed with key management and recommendations for improvement are provided. Individuals receive training on how to take appropriate action to achieve the desired goals.
  
• Control: Ongoing Best Practice Facilitation and Coaching. While improvement is desired, sustainable change is what most leaders strive for. Gallup consultants provide managers and leaders the tools and information to sustain long term improvements.

For more information, contact the Healthcare team.