By Christie Scanlon, CEO, Precision Health Analytics (PHA)
LinkedIn: Christie M. Scanlon, CMA
LinkedIn: Precision Health Analytics
A carefully crafted Service Line Profitability report can be like a New Year’s resolution: Packed with potential – ready to reveal operational efficiencies, uncover opportunities, and provide strategic recommendations. But if not presented the right way, there is a real risk the most insightful of reports and dashboards will be ignored.
The importance of these reports cannot be overstated. They are critical tools for driving data-informed decision-making in healthcare organizations. With the right data, aligned with current market trends, and operational insights, leaders can:
- Anticipate revenue streams and ensure financial sustainability
- Identify risks that could jeopardize operations or growth
- Plan and execute performance improvement initiatives to enhance care delivery and patient satisfaction
- Optimize sales and marketing strategies to expand their reach and impact
If your report is met with confusion, indifference, or worse, silence, it’s not because the data isn’t important – it’s because the story behind the numbers isn’t being conveyed. Here’s how to give your report the New Year’s glow-up it deserves:
- Start with a Bold Resolution:
Just like a New Year’s resolution needs a clear “why” to stick, your report needs a strong purpose right at the start. Connect the insights directly to organizational priorities, such as improving patient outcomes or reducing costs. Present a concise executive summary that highlights essential insights and actionable recommendations, allowing busy leaders to grasp the significance quickly. - Keep it Polaroid Perfect:
Some leaders prefer the simplicity of printed reports, like the charm of a Polaroid. Ensure your layout is clean and print-friendly, leaving a lasting impression that’s both classic and clear. While many organizations embrace digital tools, some decision-makers still prefer hard copies for review. Ensure your report is printer-friendly by selecting appropriate layouts, fonts, and color schemes that translate well to paper without sacrificing readability or professionalism. - Tone Down the Flashy Visuals:
Flashy visuals and over-designed reports can distract you from your key messages. Use clean, professional fonts, and reserve bold or underlined text for truly critical points. A simple, well-organized layout enhances focus and ensures your key messages aren’t lost in the visual noise. - Clear the Clutter and Round It Out:
Incorporate rounding to simplify data presentations. For example, instead of presenting exact figures like $1,243,567.42, round to $1.24M when the precision is not essential. This reduces cognitive overload and allows stakeholders to focus on broader trends and comparisons. - Use Simple, Focused Charts and Graphs:
Like setting New Year’s goals, your visuals should be simple, focused, and impactful. Visual aids like charts and graphs can make complex data more accessible, but only when used judiciously. Reports should:- Limit chart complexity: Keep column charts to under 13 data points to avoid clutter and ensure readability.
- Leverage text wrapping: Adjust column widths with wrap text features to maintain clarity in tables.
- Choose alternatives to pie charts: While pie charts can illustrate proportions, they often lack nuance. Consider using bar graphs or heat maps to convey relationships more effectively.
- A Flawless Report Mixes Clarity and Precision:
Kick off 2025 with clarity and precision. Reviewing your work thoroughly or enlisting a colleague’s help ensures clarity, accuracy, and polish. A well-edited report inspires confidence and demonstrates your commitment to professionalism. - Focus on Trends to Make This Year Count:
The New Year is all about reflecting on the past and planning for the future. Decision-makers are more likely to engage with data that is contextualized. Comparing performance against historical benchmarks or peer institutions provides valuable perspective and helps prioritize action. For example, “Our net revenue has increased by 12% compared to last quarter and is 5% higher than peer averages.” - Meaningful Ratios Are Powerful Tools:
This New Year, resolve to make data easier to understand. Ratios are powerful tools for distilling complex data into digestible, actionable metrics. They allow leaders to interpret raw numbers within meaningful contexts. Some impactful ratios include:- Direct Costs / Reimbursement: Highlights cost-effectiveness and profitability.
- Contribution Margin / Case Mix Index: Demonstrates financial performance relative to service complexity.
- Productivity % / Turnover Rate: Links workforce efficiency to retention challenges.
- Begin with a Data-Driven Story
The beginning of the year is a time for fresh perspectives and clear direction. Ultimately, the goal is to guide stakeholders from understanding to action. Structure your report to answer key questions: What’s happening? Why is it happening? What should we do about it? Combine compelling visuals, concise explanations, and actionable recommendations to ensure your data drives decisions.
By embracing these strategies, you will get the New Year off to a productive start by ensuring your report is not only well received but also drives impactful, strategic action. When data and storytelling come together, the opportunities for meaningful change in the year ahead are limitless.