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What is Business Intelligence (BI)?

Financial Report

Introduction

Business Intelligence (BI) refers to the strategies, tools, and technologies used to collect, analyse, and present data in a way that helps organisations make better-informed decisions. In the NHS and wider healthcare setting, BI plays a critical role in improving patient care, optimising operational performance, and supporting strategic planning.

Financial Report

Business Intelligence in the NHS

In healthcare, BI is used to turn raw data, such as clinical activity, prescribing patterns, waiting times, workforce statistics, and patient outcomes, into actionable insights.

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NHS BI professionals often work with data from:

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  • Electronic Patient Records (EPRs)

  • EPMA systems (Electronic Prescribing & Medicines Administration)

  • PAS (Patient Administration Systems)

  • Finance and HR systems

  • National datasets (e.g. SUS, HES, and ONS)

Employee

What Does a Business Intelligence Analyst Do?

The role of a BI Analyst (or BI Developer) typically includes:

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  • Extracting and cleaning data from clinical and operational systems

  • Designing dashboards and reports for different audiences (clinical, operational, board-level)

  • Conducting trend analysis and forecasting

  • Identifying inefficiencies and areas for improvement

  • Supporting service transformation and QI initiatives

  • Ensuring data quality and governance

  • Feeding into strategic decisions at Trust or ICS level

Working with Spreadsheets

Common Tools Used in BI

BI teams in the NHS use a range of tools, including:

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  • SQL (Structured Query Language)

  • Power BI or Tableau for interactive dashboards

  • Excel (still widely used!)

  • Python or R for more advanced analytics

  • ETL tools for data extraction, transformation, and loading

  • Data Warehouses (local or regional) for structured reporting

Meeting

How Does BI Relate to EPMA?

BI is essential in realising the full potential of EPMA systems. Through BI, organisations can:

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  • Track prescribing trends and variation

  • Monitor adherence to clinical guidelines

  • Identify high-risk prescribing practices

  • Evaluate the impact of interventions (e.g. switch from paper to digital prescribing)

  • Report on controlled drug use, antimicrobial stewardship, and formulary compliance

  • Support business cases for digital transformation

Data Analyst

Career Pathways in Business Intelligence

A typical BI career pathway may look like:

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  1. Entry-level Analyst (with Excel and basic SQL skills)

  2. BI Developer or Data Analyst (working with dashboards, ETL processes)

  3. Senior BI Analyst / BI Lead (responsible for larger data strategies)

  4. Head of BI / Associate Director of Informatics

  5. Or transition into adjacent roles like Data Scientist, Digital Transformation Lead, or Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Presentation

Skills & Qualifications

BI professionals often come from a range of backgrounds, maths, computer science, economics, or even clinical roles. Key skills include:

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  • Strong analytical thinking

  • SQL/database querying

  • Data visualisation

  • Understanding healthcare data flows

  • Communication & storytelling with data

  • Knowledge of NHS data standards (e.g. SNOMED CT, OPCS, ICD-10)

Meeting

Summary

Business Intelligence (BI) plays a vital role in unlocking the value of healthcare data, turning raw numbers into actionable insights that support safer, more efficient, and patient-centred care. From prescribing trends to operational performance, BI is central to optimising NHS services and informing digital transformation across clinical systems like EPMA. Whether you're new to analytics or exploring a future in data-driven healthcare, BI offers a rewarding and increasingly essential career path within the NHS.​

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