From Spreadsheets to Modern Analytics – Perspectives on a Healthcare Success Story

Thought Leadership | August 9, 2024 | By Dan Anamitra

A Healthcare Success Story with USEReady

Enhancing Healthcare with Modern Analytics

USEReady’s Role in Healthcare Data Transformation

from-spreadsheets-to-modern-analytics-image

Healthcare providers are never short on data and those that can use it effectively do well. Not just for themselves but their patients too. But those who fail to grasp the insights their data holds, underperform. As data specialists, we see examples of the latter every day with HLS firms getting weighed down by their own legacy data platforms. In a recent LinkedIn poll, a significant majority of healthcare leaders identified legacy data infrastructure and data interoperability issues as hindering their ability to leverage data for improved patient care.  

These limitations of legacy data platforms, as highlighted by the respondents, can impact everything from operations to patient care to financial performance of the organization. In this blog, we’ll delve into the story of a top U.S. specialty healthcare provider that was struggling with limited data visibility and poor data analytics and how USEReady’s Data Value practice helped it overcome the said challenges.


Introduction to the Healthcare Data Challenge

Benefits of Moving to Modern Analytics

Implementing Analytics Solutions in Healthcare

Results and Impact on Healthcare Outcomes

Overview of Spreadsheet Limitations

Key Features of Modern Analytics Tools

Steps for a Successful Data Transition

Case Study: Improved Patient Outcomes

Shackled by Spreadsheets

This healthcare provider in question focused on primary care for patients across different age-groups. With over a dozen locations it operated on a high-touch, medical home model with a team of certified physicians and healthcare professionals. The firm relied heavily on spreadsheets for reporting, hindering their ability to gain insights into operations.

impacting everything from patient care to financial performance

This manual, spreadsheet-based approach created several challenges including limited visibility (since spreadsheets lacked the capabilities to handle diverse data sources and perform complex analyses), data redundancy, and errors due to manual data manipulation.

The HLS firm sought a robust solution that could overcome these limitations. Their vision was to build a central data repository for self-service analytics, enabling data-driven decision-making. Its emphasis on quality patient outcomes demanded a modernized data platform.


A Cloud-Native Data Analytics Solution

USEReady’s Data Value experts designed a cloud-native data analytics solution using Microsoft Azure, Snowflake, and Power BI to address the challenge. This solution addressed the client’s challenges and transformed the way they manage and analyze data. Here’s what we did:

Cloud Data Platform

Cloud Data Platform

We leveraged the secure and scalable Microsoft Azure cloud platform to host the data infrastructure. This ensured flexibility and scalability for future growth.

Modern Data Warehouse

Modern Data Warehouse

Snowflake became the central storage for all the healthcare provider’s data. This eliminated data silos and ensured consistency.

Automated Data Pipelines

Automated Data Pipelines

Manual data entry became a thing of the past with us implementing Matillion to automate data extraction from various sources and load it into the Snowflake data warehouse.

Self-Service Analytics Environment

Self-Service Analytics Environment

Power BI empowered staff across departments with interactive dashboards and reports. This sowed the seeds of data-driven decision-making throughout the organization. We also included data literacy initiatives to ensure user adoption.

Executive & Functional Dashboards

Executive & Functional Dashboards

Customized dashboards were developed for executives and functional teams, providing real-time visibility into key performance indicators (KPIs) for proactive management.


A Win for Patients and the HLS Firm

The implementation of this solution yielded significant improvements including:

10X Faster Data Insights

10X Faster Data Insights

Automated data pipelines and self-service analytics enabled staff to access and analyze data quickly, leading to faster, more informed decision-making.

Reduced Manual Intervention

Reduced Manual Intervention

Streamlined data ingestion (3X faster!) and reporting processes minimized manual work, freeing up valuable staff time for higher-value activities.

Enhanced Security and Privacy

Enhanced Security and Privacy

The solution adhered to strict security protocols and HIPAA compliance regulations, ensuring the confidentiality of patient data.

Improved Patient Outcomes

Improved Patient Outcomes

Timely data insights empowered the healthcare provider to deliver better care to their patients.


The USEReady Data Value practice transformed the way in which the firm interacted with its data completely. By leveraging the scalability, efficiency, and data governance features of cloud-based solutions, we not only modernized its analytics but also enabled the firm to gain valuable insights that allow it to improve patient care, and overall operational efficiency.  

USEReady is proud to collaborate with healthcare providers like this one who prioritize utilizing data to create positive outcomes for their patients and business stakeholders. Please reach out to us for a closer look at our Data Value expertise and see how we can assist your organization in utilizing your data effectively.

Click Here to Download the Case Study

Dan Anamitra
About the Author
Dan Anamitra is a Data Management veteran with deep expertise in curating exceptional data experiences that drive business value for organizations. With over 24 years in modernizing data platforms and analytics using cloud and AI, Dan has delivered over 100 successful data transformations for global clients. As VP and Practice Leader of Data Value at USEReady, Dan leads data engineering, architecture, and analytics groups and focuses on solutions, thought leadership, and interactions that penetrate customer accounts and expand relationships. A strong advocate of data-to-value solutions, Dan enables organizations to become insight-driven through practical data experiences.
Dan AnamitraVice President & Practice Lead, Data Value | USEReady