Guest View: Why Hudson Valley Workforce Academy is needed

BY ROBERT GLAZER

The health care industry is changing rapidly, and technological advancements have contributed to a fundamental shift in the way we do business. Today, we are driven by data that help providers minimize costs and improve care and outcomes by providing patients with the right care at the right time. Therefore, our growing ability to collect and sort through large quantities of data is altering the way we approach marketing and conduct business. Collection and analysis of data from our offices and physicians, as well as patient demographics and their in-office experiences, provides us with the information we need to strengthen our efficiency, operate leanly and create customized training solutions for all segments of our operations in order to optimize our patients”™ experiences in each and every one of our 40 offices. The landscape of health care marketing is data-driven and demands that we cast aside ingrained notions of what constitutes analysis.

When viewing a database of information, certain factors may jump out at the viewer, whereas other factors will not be apparent unless the viewer is properly trained. It takes expertise and training to be able to decipher what data really tell us. The range of possibilities is enormous.

For example, data might tell us about patient traffic to our offices on rainy days (people may be less inclined to leave their homes), or the pollen count in any given geographical area that could be contributing to a higher rate of allergic reactions. The latter information could be used to determine which offices should offer an increase in allergy services. Other data might describe factors that affect volume of total patients. They would include the patients”™ ages, their insurance coverage, what religious and cultural holidays they celebrate and when their local schools are closed.

A real-world example from ENT and Allergy Associates: One of the effects of the health care exchange is that a larger percentage of our total revenue is composed of co-pays and deductibles. Furthermore, the percentage of self-pays we receive has doubled in the last year. Observing these trends through data has changed certain jobs within our company, and has forced us to add steps to self-pay accounts receivable collections as we monitor the data more closely.

In order to recognize these trends, the format of the data may need to be manipulated so we can recognize these changes faster and adapt to new challenges accordingly. Whether translating data lists into graphs or utilizing certain Microsoft Excel filters, our ability to view data in the most appropriate way will pay long-term dividends.

The bottom line is that data retrieval and analysis is sophisticated these days, and the current workforce needs to become sufficiently trained in the science of data analytics in order to understand sources and conceive of innovative uses of data to improve and refine health care. That”™s where our partner in regional advancement and workforce development, the Westchester County Association, comes in.

The WCA”™s Hudson Valley Workforce Academy is a great asset to our region, working diligently to prepare our area”™s workforce for this seismic shift in health care. The academy presents an invaluable resource to health care and other employers in our area. It is a collaborative partnership between regional stakeholders in education, health care and business committed to turning skill deficits in our workforce into skill mastery ”” skills that our employees can then put to immediate use in their employment right here in the Hudson Valley.

From our own perspective, the specialized training in data analysis and health care informatics has allowed ENTA to view our data from a new and fresh perspective that better equips us to manage our constantly shifting and changing priorities and outcomes. Analytics has helped us change our business systems for patient intake and improve our patient appointment systems to adjust to this evolving insurance market. The training provided by the WCA”™s Hudson Valley Workforce Academy gives our staff the tools they need to keep our business sharp.

Health care is one of the fastest-growing economic sectors in the country; it is one of the top industries in our region. As health care continues to grow and evolve, it”™s imperative that industry maintains the pace and that our business strategies adjust accordingly. Businesses need to employ staffs that have the knowledge and skills needed to further our missions. The courses provided by the WCA will not only help to facilitate this change, they will ensure that neither our businesses nor our workforce is left behind.

Robert Glazer is CEO of Tarrytown-based ENT and Allergy Associates. Contact ENTA at 914-333-5900.