Where is time really being lost in your pathway? (And why it’s often not where you think)
By Dean Johnson, Head of Data & Insights
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve sat with a Trust team, looked at a patient pathway together, and heard some version of:
“We think the delay is in reporting.”
It’s a completely reasonable place to start. Reporting is visible. It’s measurable. It’s what people quite rightly get held to account for. But when you step back and look at the full pathway, from arrival to scan, to report, to decision, a different picture often emerges. And it’s not always where time is really being lost.
The bit we don’t always see
But what’s often missing is a clear, end-to-end view of how patients are actually moving through the pathway and the context to understand what that data is really telling you.
It’s not always easy to:
- see how the whole pathway is performing
- interpret where the delay is actually sitting
- or know how that compares to similar pathways elsewhere
So understandably, focus tends to sit on the parts you can see most clearly. The problem is that’s not always where the opportunity sits.
A recent example
We were reviewing a pathway with a team recently. Fairly typical pressures. Busy service. Everyone is doing their best to keep things moving. When we connected the data and looked at the pathway end-to-end, we found:
- around 2.5 hours to reach the scan
- under 30 minutes to report
- and then more delay after the result was already available
The reporting was stable. Consistent. Not the issue. The delay sat before the scan. And after the result. Not where the team expected.
It’s a pattern we see again and again
This isn’t unusual. Across many pathways, a similar story plays out:
- time lost getting to the scan
- time lost after results are available
- variation driven by process and handoffs, not just capacity
In other words, in many pathways, the majority of delay sits outside reporting.
Why that matters
If you think the delay is in one part of the pathway, that’s where effort goes. But if that’s not where the issue sits? You can end up:
- pushing harder on the wrong problem
- adding pressure where it won’t change flow
- and seeing little improvement in waiting times
Meanwhile, the real opportunity remains hidden. What changes when you see it clearly? When we connect pathway data, combining Trust data with what’s generated through Medica reporting, something shifts. You get a clear, shared view of what’s actually happening.
And when that happens:
- conversations become more focused
- assumptions are challenged
- teams align around the same picture
And crucially: You can focus your effort where it will actually make a difference.
What that looks like in practice
When teams act on this kind of insight, we typically see:
- faster clinical decision-making
- improved flow through ED and assessment areas
- earlier discharge and better use of beds
In some pathways, that can translate into:
- 30–90 minutes faster decisions
- reduced length of stay for certain cohorts
Not by working harder. But by focusing on the right part of the pathway.
This isn’t about telling anyone what’s wrong
You know your pathways best. Our role isn’t to come in and point fingers. It’s to help the data tell a clearer story. To surface what isn’t always visible. And to give you something practical you can act on.
Why the partnership matters
The real value comes from connecting the data properly and working through it together. Because the insight doesn’t come from one dataset. It comes from:
- looking across the full pathway
- understanding how it behaves in practice
- and exploring it collaboratively
That’s where the opportunities start to become clear.
If you’re coming to UKIO
We’ll be at UKIO in Liverpool from 8th to 10th June, running short, practical sessions on exactly this. Nothing heavy. No sales pitch. We’ll start with a real pathway example, and if it’s useful, we can explore your own service together. If you’ve ever had that sense that:
“We know there’s something here… we’re just not quite seeing it clearly”
that’s usually where these conversations start.
I’d genuinely enjoy sitting down, looking at the data with you, and helping uncover where the opportunity might be to make a real difference, whether that’s improving flow, reducing delays, or just getting clearer on where to focus first.
One final thought
This isn’t data for the sake of it. It’s about:
- making better decisions under pressure
- improving flow where it matters most
- and making things better for patients and staff
The data is already there. The value is in seeing it clearly. If you’re at UKIO, come and find us on stand B25 or secure your preferred time slot in advance here.
We’re always happy to have a proper conversation, and we’ll have some cold drinks and a few cookies on the stand if you fancy stopping by.