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From Data to Decisions: Challenges Experienced by Flemish Hospitals
1UHasselt - Hasselt University, Faculty of Business Economics, Digital Future Lab, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
Studies in Health Technology and Informatics
|May 23, 2026
Summary
Hospitals face challenges in data-driven decision making (DDDM) due to fragmented systems, data quality issues, and cultural resistance. Overcoming these requires technological investment and a shared responsibility for data use across departments.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Healthcare Management
- Health Informatics
Background:
- Healthcare organizations aim to leverage data for enhanced care quality, patient safety, and operational efficiency.
- Implementing data-driven decision making (DDDM) in clinical practice presents significant complexities.
- Frontline managers play a crucial role in the adoption of data-informed practices within hospitals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the experiences of frontline managers regarding the implementation of data-driven decision making (DDDM) in Flemish hospitals.
- To identify key challenges encountered during the transition to more data-informed work processes at the department level.
- To understand the interplay of technical, human, and organizational factors influencing DDDM maturity in healthcare settings.
Main Methods:
- Conducted 28 semi-structured interviews with department heads and head nurses across nine Flemish hospitals.
- Focused on eight diverse hospital departments to capture a range of experiences.
- Employed thematic analysis to identify recurrent patterns and challenges in DDDM implementation.
Main Results:
- Identified five primary challenge areas: fragmented data infrastructures, data quality and reliability concerns, insufficient data literacy and accessibility, organizational and cultural resistance, and regulatory/financial constraints.
- Revealed that progress in DDDM is uneven across different hospital departments.
- Highlighted that successful DDDM adoption is contingent upon technical, human, and organizational factors.
Conclusions:
- Hospitals' journey towards data-driven decision making (DDDM) maturity is shaped by a complex interplay of technical, human, and organizational elements.
- The transition requires substantial technological investment alongside a cultural shift towards embracing data.
- Fostering a shared responsibility for data utilization is essential for advancing DDDM across all hospital departments.
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