In early 2017 BMI The Chaucer Hospital reached out to Kent Business School (KBS) in order to better understand staff and patient flows around the hospital. Now, the two Master’s in Business Analytics students who undertook the research have been back to present their findings, much to the delight of the hospital and its team.
The initial approach to Kent Business School was made by the then Outpatients’ Clinical Services Manager, Oliver Waldrow, who wanted to establish closer relationships with local centres of learning, offering a mutually beneficial platform for research. This desire to create a learning relationship perfectly matched up to KBS’ innovative Student Implant scheme which matches those studying for their Master’s with a business looking for analysis expertise and consultancy on key solution-based projects.
MSc Business Analytics students, Jinhao Xie and Sheema Noorian took up the opportunity to spend three months working closely with clinical and management staff within The Chaucer Hospital on what was, for the hospital, crucial work to improve efficiency and thus clinical care. This research, made possible thanks to the Student Implant scheme, would form the backbone of the students’ dissertations.
The premise of Jinhao and Sheema’s research was to understand patient flows through the hospital’s clinical systems, and how the clinical staff were utilised during this process. They were closely assisted by Dr Paola Scaparra and numerous clinical staff throughout the entire three month process.
Sheema said; “I was involved in multiple visits to the hospital carrying out numerous interviews with nurses and the manager of outpatients, Oliver Waldow. Oliver was exceptionally supportive and facilitated all of my requirements to the best of his abilities. Another challenge that comes with such an undertaking is the fact that it is a real-life problem where real people are involved and that does bring a lot of pressure as there is little-to-no-room for errors.”
Jinhao added; “This was a great opportunity for me as I was able to apply my knowledge to a real-life situation and make a difference. I also had the opportunity to make connections with the healthcare professionals which might help me in the future.”
A key outcome of the research were tools that could be used to handle increased outpatient numbers at current staffing levels. Functionality to bring in variables also offers the hospital the ability to adjust for a number of different conditions.
Dr Scaparra said; “BMI The Chaucer Hospital has offered our students a unique opportunity to apply what they have learnt in their MSc Business Analytics programme to real, complex problems. Jinhao and Sheema worked closely with the hospital’s staff and used their knowledge of simulation and optimisation techniques to analyse patients flow and propose more equitable nurses assignments. Their work has highlighted the huge potential of analytics to improve healthcare service efficiency and quality. We hope this is the start of a long-term collaboration between KBS and BMI The Chaucer Hospital.”
To round up the project both Jinhao and Sheema presented their findings to hospital managers, physicians and nurses. Not only were the presentations well received, they sparked lively debate among staff and raised the possibility of furthering the research alongside a strengthened relationship between KBS and BMI The Chaucer Hospital.
Find out more about the KBS MSc Business Analytics programme and how its Student Implant Scheme could further your career prospects.
If you are a company looking to take part in the Student Implant scheme, and would like to utilise our student talent, visit our Business page.