Improving healthcare safety and quality with real-time data

The increasing complexity and volume of patient interactions demand more streamlined and accurate approaches to healthcare safety and quality. Healthcare organisations rely on a range of methods to identify adverse events, yet there is no consistent consensus on the most effective approach¹. While measurement alone has limited impact, sharing quality and safety data with clinicians at the microsystem level can improve outcomes². Even greater benefits are achieved when real-time measurement is combined with targeted interventions that support safer, more proactive care.

Real-time data in healthcare refers to information captured and analysed as it is generated, allowing for immediate insights and faster decision-making. Unlike retrospective or historical data, which is reviewed after events occur, real-time data can help enable clinicians to act on emerging risks in the moment. The growing digitisation of healthcare systems, including electronic health records (EHRs), clinical decision support systems (CDSSs), and telehealth platforms, has made real-time data more accessible than ever.

Studies show that streaming real-time data through EHRs can significantly improve patient safety. Hospitals that monitor real-time safety indicators (such as predictive safety scores, adverse event triggers, and alerts) can intervene rapidly, reducing preventable harm. These proactive strategies have been linked to lower in-hospital mortality, shorter lengths of stay, and fewer 30-day readmissions. By shifting from reactive monitoring to real-time responsiveness, healthcare providers can deliver more personalised and safer care³.

In Australia, real-time data has proven especially valuable in high-acuity settings such as emergency departments (EDs) and intensive care units (ICUs). These systems help to enable early detection of clinical deterioration, medication errors, abnormal glucose levels, and pressure injuries, risks that significantly impact patient outcomes⁴. For example, pressure injuries alone cost the Australian healthcare system over AU$56,000 per case. Real-time monitoring helps reduce this burden by supporting earlier intervention and improved care coordination. 

In an environment marked by workforce shortages and increasing demand, digital platforms also help streamline workflows, prioritise nursing tasks, and enable data-driven decision-making. These outcomes support both improved clinical quality and better resource utilisation. 

Learn more about how Cgov's Quality Management Solutions supports safer, more responsive care.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into healthcare data systems is enabling a shift from reactive to proactive care. These technologies analyse real-time patient data to detect trends, predict complications, and guide clinicians toward evidence-based decisions. When embedded into clinical workflows, they can offer critical insights that enhance understanding of individual patient needs and support more effective interventions⁵. 

This data-driven approach can not only improve patient-level care but also helps healthcare systems deliver more consistent, population-wide health improvements. Real-time data can enable healthcare organisations to anticipate risks, tailor interventions, and move towards a model of preventative, high-quality care.

Cgov supports healthcare organisations in harnessing real-time data to enhance safety, streamline compliance, and deliver better patient outcomes. Get in touch to learn how our custom solutions can help your team transition to a more proactive, data-informed approach. 

^{[1] Borzecki AM, Rosen AKIs there a ‘best measure’ of patient safety? BMJ Quality & Safety 2020;29:185-188.}

^{[2] Sauro K, Ghali WA, Stelfox HT. Measuring safety of healthcare: an exercise in futility? BMJ Quality & Safety 2020;29:341-344.}

^{[3] Classen, D., Li, M., Miller, S., & Ladner, D. (2018). An electronic health record–based real-time analytics program for patient safety surveillance and improvement. Health Affairs, 37(11), 1805-1812.}

^{[4] Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC). Preventing pressure injuries and wound management. 2020.} 

^{[5] The Data-Driven Future of Healthcare: A Review (M. M. Amri & S. A. Abed, Trans.). (2023). Mesopotamian Journal of Big Data, 2023, 68-74.}