The same Dashboard screen also displays Trend Indicators in the form of colored arrows.
The Trend is calculated based on Metadata Trend selection and slope value. While calculated trend determines the angle of the Arrow, the Trend value determines the color of the arrow. The Dashboard screen uses the same color coding that is available across all Medisolv products. The Trend is calculated based on the Slope value and Trend value available in the Metadata. The color coding of the arrow is defined by the trend value calculated.The Dashboard screen uses the same color coding that is available across all Medisolv products.
On the Dashboard screen the Trend (Arrow) provide users an outlook on the performance of an indicator over a specified period of time. Administrators while entering the Indicator Metadata, can define the parameters over which they would consider the performance of an indicator favorable
i.e. it can be either higher, lower or unknown. It can also be called as Favorable Trend The three integral aspects of the Trend (Arrow) are :
- The Color of the Trend (Arrow)
- The Direction of the Trend (Arrow)
- The Angle of the Trend (Arrow)
The Color of the Trend (Arrow) is defined by the Trend i.e if for an Indicator the MetadataTrend is higher and the slope calculated is more than 0, then the trend is lower. This is denoted by the color Red in the Trend Arrow. In the same way, if for an Indicator the Metadata Trend is high and the slope value is less than 0, or if the MetadataTrend is low and the value of the slope is more than 0 then the Trend calculated is low and the same is denoted by the color Green.
The Direction of the Trend (Arrow) icon indicates an improvement or decline, based on the measures of the indicator. The Indicator Metadata section defines whether an upward or downward trend is better for an indicator.
The Angle of the Trend (Arrow) is mainly calculated on the value of slope.
However, an upward direction or angle does not necessarily indicate improvement. Similarly, a down- ward angle or direction does not always denote a worsening trend. For some indicators a downward trend is better.
Example: For IQI indicators, such as AAA Mortality Rate, a downward trend might be better. Hence a downward arrow is a positive trend, since it indicates that the mortality rate has reduced.
Indicators need to have data, as well as goals and benchmarks defined, for the monthly/quarterly numbers to be displayed in color coding. An indicator which has data, for which goals have not been defined, will be displayed without any color coded status.
For a full discussion on how color coding works, please refer to the Medisolv Color Coding Methodology document available on the Help Site.