The Hidden Cost of Inaccessible Data

The Importance of Data Management in Healthcare Leadership

Leadership visibility depends on accessible data, but outdated systems create costly blind spots. Without a central source of data, leaders struggle to track progress, analyze trends, and make informed decisions.

Digital reporting tools offer a smarter solution to streamline workflows and inform smart decision-making.

Inaccessible Data: A Barrier to Effective Healthcare Data Management

Too many hospitals rely on paper for critical workforce data. Even online systems like Excel and Workday are disconnected from datasources that matter, provide limited data access, and waste precious hours on excessive administrative catch-up when it comes time to report to the JointCommission or conduct internal audits.

Consequently, managers and directors are unable to track clinical ladder and competency progression in real-time, only seeing ladder applications once completed. Without up-to-date information, leaders can’t see who started an application or identify why progress stalls because they are unable to discern that progress has stalled in the first place.

Managing Healthcare Data with Digital Reporting Tools

Visibility is limited by indiscriminate data classifiers. Trends in the data and potential bottlenecks to completing applications or submitting information remain hidden, delaying critical adjustments.

Clinical Coordinator for Nursing Services at PetersonHealth, Lori Michel, explained the issues with manual data entry and tracking.Having had a “binder system for the past 25years, [there was] no consistency between binders… [The clinical ladder]program was evaluated by the number of nurses entering the program, but it was steadily declining."

The result? Time and money are being wasted on redundant work due to manual tracking.

Healthcare Data Management Solutions: Real-Time Reporting and Tracking

The key lies in automated data collection. By integrating existing data sources and systems in place, StaffGarden makes insights accessible anytime.

Sitting at the nexus of HR, IT, LMS, and other sources of truth for workforce data, the StaffGarden clinical success platform reveals trends in your workforce, like application interest by level, location, or department.

With 70+ pre-built reports designed by and for healthcare professionals, StaffGarden is built from a foundation of knowledge of clinical workflows, compliance, & leadership challenges. The platform can be further configured to provide thousands of filters across every level of data reporting to tailor insights towards the unique needs of every healthcare organization.

Carol Gabala, System Director for Nursing Practice & Professional Development at Bon Secours Mercy Health, needed to be able to access rich data, turning to StaffGarden to build a standardized program into the digital platform.
- “Synergy systemwide correlating to improvements was big for me and for the CNOs. Being able to track this data… highlighted a huge gap in knowing how many were on the clinical ladder, and being able to tie recruitment and retention into a digital platform was now going to give us that in great detail," Carol affirmed.
Jennifer Tudor, Magnet Director for a hospital system in the California Bay Area, saw that when her hospital switched to StaffGarden, the improvement was twofold: the individual experience improved for the end user, and the governing body can now see globally what's happening on all levels.
- “I can see nurses' applications and projects to figure out how many nurses used a given piece of evidence in their clinical ladders using a one-click filter… it's accessible, [people] can do it from a phone or from home,” Jennifer explained.

With StaffGarden, leaders can track program participation and engagement as it happens. For example, if a particular ladder level sees a surge in applications, leaders can investigate and support the department driving the demand.

Visibility extends to individual progress as well—leaders can see who has started an application, where they are in the process, and monitor early interest through applications started and logins.

These insights enable data-driven resource allocation, ensuring support is directed where it’s needed most.

Cost Savings and ROI from Healthcare Data Management Software

Kathy Russell-Babin, VP for Professional Practice at Inova Health System, uses StaffGarden’s robust reporting tools to filter on levels like RN grad fellow status across locations.

Kathy can now quickly answer questions such as, “Are [nurses] engaging in the ladder? Are they getting their degrees? [Do] we have the right mix of RN2s and RN5s? [This helps] us to learn, grow, and understand what we should expect and find out why certain areas may be lagging.”

As a result, "in the last year [Inova] has seen recruitment increase dramatically to around 850 new grads a year… [we’re] also seeing reduced turnover at about 2-3% year over year,” Kathy confirmed.

When considering the cost of adopting the new reporting platform, Carol had "[Bon Secours Mercy Health’s] consultant group build an ROI model using data from our [previous]CLP, new program costs, StaffGarden costs… and found that retaining just three nurses a year completely covers the cost of the program for StaffGarden."

Why Data Management is Important in Healthcare

Accessible data empowers leaders to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and make informed decisions at every level.

Make the shift to digital reporting tools today. Transform how your organization tracks and utilizes data, unlocking stronger workforce engagement and program success.

See how a digital clinical ladder will impact your healthcare organization by scheduling a live demo.

Lead with Expert Insights: Subscribe

As a leader in ensuring quality, safety, and efficiency in patient care, your role is vital. Sign up to receive Insights in your inbox and get monthly updates, expert perspectives, and practical information to empower your team and elevate patient care.