Instant Data Entry Application (IDEA)

The IDEA platform application is a web-based software application that collects custom sets of data  for instant entry into DOS.

Custom IDEA applications allow users to input data not captured by the EDW.

The problem

Sometimes source systems don't include slices of data you need. As a result, data architects and business managers create custom spreadsheet reports. These reports need to be maintained and are only accessible by one or two people across organizations.

Our approach

IDEA builds and deploys custom web applications to collect data not captured in an EDW for critical reporting and analysis. The data collected flows right into DOS. With IDEA, you can create as many applications as you need, manage them in a central place, and scale them to meet enterprise needs. In practice, through the right culture, IDEA can end siloed department-level, Excel-based data collection. IDEA applications are also iPad and tablet friendly for easy workflow data collection.

Benefits and features

• Rapid time to analysis and reporting: New data elements can be added in minutes, versus waiting for many months to be approved through a report queue prioritization process.
• Operational efficiencies: Unlike siloed, individual or department Excel spreadsheets, data elements are collected once and are available to all DOS users.
• Enable research and quality initiatives: Data required for research and quality initiatives can be added without the use of IT resources.
• Support simple and complex use cases: Capture custom lists and hierarchies required for reporting.
• Fill gaps in the data-collection process: Collect data that isn’t in a source system, such as for research and quality-improvement initiatives.
• Serve as a temporary stopgap: While designing a solution, collect data until a permanent solution is implemented.
• Relieve IT of custom application requests: Those interested in capturing custom sets of data can create their own data-collection app.

Use cases

• A clinical staff member needs to collect questionnaire data from a patient in the waiting room prior to surgery. On a hospital-issued iPad, the staff member brings up an IDEA app that the surgery team custom created for patients receiving this procedure, he interviews the patient, and he enters her information.
• A quality data analyst submitted a request to have a new data field added to her hospital’s EMR for the nurses there to use in addition to collecting patient vital-sign data. However, she was told that the request would take two months. So, she creates an IDEA app with the data field she needs and has the nurses enter the information there, so it can be combined with the patient vital-sign data in the EDW and used together in her reports.