How can Here help hospices enhance their impact with data?

Unlocking the power of data: How Here can help hospices enhance their impact

At Here, we’ve been supporting healthcare organisations for over 16 years, using data and analytics to drive meaningful improvements in care.

Our experience in working with NHS organisations and Primary Care Networks has given us a unique insight into the challenges faced by hospices when it comes to data management and reporting.

We believe that hospices can greatly benefit from harnessing the power of data—and we’re here to help. 

Why data matters for hospices 

In recent years, many hospices have made great strides in adopting advanced electronic patient record (EPR) systems like SystmOne. These systems offer a wealth of valuable information, but extracting meaningful insights from that data can be complex. Whether it’s about demonstrating the value of your services, ensuring equitable access for your community, or making sure you’re using resources as efficiently as possible, data holds the answers. But are you getting the most out of it? 

Hospices are increasingly faced with the need to provide robust evidence of their impact—not just in terms of patient care, but also in how they integrate into the wider healthcare system.

Our approach: A partnership, not an outsourcing relationship 

We understand that hospices vary greatly in their data and analytics capabilities. Some have well-established teams, while others are stretched thin, relying on manual processes or outdated methods of reporting. That’s where we come in—not to replace your team, but to complement and enhance your existing skills. 

Our goal isn’t to outsource your data function; it’s to build a partnership where we work alongside you, helping your hospice maximise its impact through effective data use. We aim to empower your team to focus on what really matters: understanding your service outcomes and making informed decisions about where improvements can be made. 

Whether you need help with setting up automated reports, developing dashboards, or making better use of tools like Power BI, we can step in at the right moment, providing the technical expertise that allows your team to focus on delivering outstanding care. 

The benefits of getting your data right 

Here’s how we typically work:

1. Building a data warehouse: We pull together data from your EPR system and other sources into a single, reliable data warehouse. This makes reporting faster, more accurate, and far less prone to errors compared to manual spreadsheets.
2. Data transformation and automation: We build robust data structures that allow for rapid reporting and analysis. You’ll have a “single version of the truth,” meaning no more conflicting numbers across different reports. You’ll be able to access timely, accurate data without the burden of manual number-crunching.
3. Enabling your team: By creating strong data foundations, your in-house team can focus on using their knowledge and expertise to interpret the data, rather than wasting time piecing it together. With the right infrastructure in place, they can easily generate reports that are meaningful and actionable.
4. Outcome-focused analytics: We help you measure the impact your hospice is making in the community. Are you reaching the populations that need you most? Are your services financially sustainable? What’s the quality of care being provided, and where could it be improved? These are the types of questions we help you answer using clear, data-driven insights.
    

Understanding the needs of hospices 

Five key areas we’ve identified where data can make a real difference: 

• Population reach: Are you serving your community equitably? Data can help you understand which demographics are accessing your services and where there might be gaps in care. 

• Service activity and quality: Data allows you to track not just what services are being provided, but how effective they are. What are the outcomes? Are there areas for improvement? 

• Workforce management: From understanding the mix of skills in your team to ensuring that you’re making the best use of those skills, data can provide crucial insights into how your workforce is performing. 

• Financial effectiveness: Ensuring that you’re using funds as efficiently as possible is vital, especially in a time of increasing financial pressure on hospices. Data can help you make informed decisions that balance care quality with cost-efficiency. 

• Outcomes and impact: How are you contributing to the broader healthcare landscape? Hospices play a crucial role in delivering personalised, compassionate care, but proving that value to commissioners and other stakeholders can be challenging. Data can help you demonstrate your impact clearly and convincingly.
  

Working flexibly, for the long term 

Our approach is flexible. We understand that needs can change over time, so we work with you to evolve the partnership as your capabilities grow. Initially, we might focus on building the right infrastructure, then later shift to enhancing analytics and reporting capabilities. 

Partnerships evolve over time as needs change, we don’t expect to be there forever. Our aim is to help you reach a point where you can manage your data effectively, and we’re happy to evolve or even for us to step back once you’re confident in your capabilities.

Let’s work together 

At Here, we believe that data can unlock new possibilities for hospices, helping you to deliver even better care to the people who need it most.

For over a decade we’ve been refining our approach to data and analytics, and we’re passionate about sharing that knowledge with others.

By building a solid data infrastructure and enabling your team to focus on what they do best, we can help you move from simply collecting data to truly understanding and leveraging it. 

If you’d like to explore how we can help your hospice, we’d love to have a conversation.

To get in touch email: matthew.riley@nhs.net

Read more about our work with hospices:
Our partnership with St Gemma’s Hospice announcement blog.

Chief Executive, Dr Helen Curr has written about ‘Why we want to work hospices’