This module will introduce you to the work of the health analyst, data visualisation and operational research as applied to assess healthcare organisations and...

This module will introduce you to the work of the health analyst, data visualisation and operational research as applied to assess healthcare organisations and enable improvements. You will learn about a variety of mathematical techniques used to improve the efficiency, productivity and quality of healthcare processes and systems. You will be introduced to visualisation and mathematical techniques for analysing and evaluating the performance of organisations, including predicting demand, planning capacity and monitoring patient flow. You will learn how measures of demand and capacity can be used to optimise service, e.g. by minimising waiting times. You will also study how analyses of the flows in a system can be used to identify inefficiencies. During the module you will undertake a number of different activities including mapping processes and modelling flow through an A&E department and suggesting process improvements to increase efficiency.

At the end of this module you will be able to:

Understand how data is collected and created to support clinical, research, direct care and commissioning decisions.
	Use measures of variance to identify outliers.
	Use data to predict demand, plan capacity and monitor flow.
The module is delivered through web-based distance learning in the UCL Virtual Learning Environment plus a 3-day face-to-face teaching session.

Reynolds M, Vasilakis C, McLeod M, et al. Using discrete event simulation to design a more efficient hospital pharmacy for outpatients. Health Care Manag Sci. 2011;14(3):223–236.

G Royston (2009) One hundred years of Operational Research in Health—UK 1948–2048, Journal of the Operational Research Society, 60:sup1, S169-S179.

Young T, Brailsford S, Connell C, Davies R, Harper P, Klein JH. Using industrial processes to improve patient care. BMJ. 2004; 328(7432):162-4.