Data-Driven Healthcare

Week 4 Discussion  |  CI2000: Computer Fundamentals  |  60 Points

Aligns with CO-6 (Excel) and CO-7 (Healthcare IT)


Discussion Prompt

Healthcare runs on data. From tracking patient appointments to monitoring medication inventory, the ability to organize, analyze, and present data is a critical skill for every healthcare professional.

Choose ONE of the following healthcare data types:

  • Patient scheduling data
  • Medication inventory tracking
  • Billing and coding records
  • Patient satisfaction scores
  • Emergency room wait times
  • Lab results tracking

Then answer all four of the following questions about your chosen data type:

Q1: Organize

What Excel features would you use to organize this data? Think about cell formatting, data validation, tables, sorting, and filtering.

Q2: Analyze

What formulas or functions would help you analyze this data? Include at least one specific formula example (e.g., =AVERAGE(B2:B50) to calculate mean wait time).

Q3: Present

How would you present this data to your supervisor? Consider chart types, conditional formatting, summary tables, or dashboard elements.

Q4: Accuracy

Why is data accuracy critical for this particular data type? What could go wrong if the data contained errors?

Formula Quick Reference

Need a refresher? Here are some common Excel formulas to get you started:

  • =SUM(B2:B100) — Adds all values in a range
  • =AVERAGE(C2:C50) — Calculates the mean of a range
  • =COUNTIF(D2:D200, "No Show") — Counts cells matching a criterion
  • =IF(E2>90, "Excellent", "Needs Review") — Returns different values based on a condition

Requirements

  • Initial post: 200+ words
  • Reference specific Excel features (not just “I would use Excel”)
  • Include at least one formula example
  • Answer all four questions (Organize, Analyze, Present, Accuracy)
  • Two replies to classmates — 75+ words each

Due Dates

  • Initial Post: Wednesday by 11:59 PM (ET)
  • Two Replies: Sunday by 11:59 PM (ET)

Grading Rubric

CriterionPoints
Data type selection and context10
Q1 — Organization features identified10
Q2 — Formula / function example included10
Q3 — Presentation method described10
Q4 — Data accuracy discussion10
Two substantive replies to classmates (75+ words each)10
Total60

“In God we trust. All others must bring data.”

— W. Edwards Deming