Influenza Staffing Plan Analysis

Analyze U.S. influenza data, including mortality rates and population demographics, in order to develop a strategic staffing plan for hospitals and clinics during flu season using Excel, Tableau, and hypothesis testing.

Data:

Influenza deaths by geography data set

Population data set -- Influenza visits data set

Lab Tests data set – Flu Shot rates for children data set

Techniques Applied:

Translating business requirements, Data Cleaning, Data Integration, Data Transformation, Statistical hypothesis testing, Visual analysis, Forecasting, Storytelling in Tableau, Presenting results to an audience

Overview:

The Medical Staffing Agency is responsible for providing additional staff to hospitals and clinics across all of the United States. Influenza season always requires more staff to different locations to provide care when patient populations spike. Stakeholders are most interested in developing a plan that will neither under or overstaff locations to most effectively provide staff in the areas of need.

Tableau Dashboard

1. Data Collection and Preprocessing

Data was sourced from the CDC and the U.S. Census Bureau, covering influenza deaths, population distribution, and lab testing. Data wrangling included cleaning and combining these datasets to create a comprehensive overview of influenza trends.

2. Key Insights and Visuals

Influenza Mortality by State
California, Texas, New York, and Florida consistently had the highest influenza-related mortality between 2009 and 2017. These populous states represent key areas where staffing needs are most urgent during flu seasons.
Regional Influenza Mortality
The South experienced the highest mortality rates, driven by states like Texas and Florida. This region should be prioritized for additional staffing resources during peak flu season.
Impact of Age on Mortality
The population aged 65+ is at the highest risk of influenza-related death. This underscores the need for targeted staffing in areas with older populations, especially during the height of flu season in January.

3. Key Recommendations

Prioritize High-Population and High-Mortality States:
California, Texas, New York, and Florida should receive priority in staff allocation, given their significant influenza-related mortality rates. These states account for a large proportion of U.S. flu deaths and should have at least 15% more staff allocated during peak flu season (November to March).
Target Elderly Populations:
Regions with high 65+ populations need dedicated resources, including geriatric nurses and respiratory specialists. Focus staffing during January, when mortality rates spike. Implement real-time monitoring of hospital capacity to dynamically reallocate staff based on patient influx.
Develop County-Level Resource Allocation:
Expand the analysis to a county level, prioritizing rural areas that may lack adequate healthcare facilities. A 25% increase in mobile healthcare units could help reduce flu-related mortality in these underserved regions.
Expand Preventive Measures:
Advocate for a national vaccination initiative, focusing on increasing flu vaccine coverage by 10-15% in high-risk areas. Utilize data to identify vaccine-resistant populations, ensuring targeted educational campaigns and improving overall vaccination rates among the elderly and high-mortality states.

This strategy emphasizes precise resource allocation based on mortality data, ensuring that the healthcare system is optimally prepared to reduce influenza-related mortality in the U.S.