Define specific objectives for DSS tools to deliver on agreed goals.

Right Decision Service implementation guide

How:

One of the first tasks for this guiding coalition is to set specific goals and SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) objectives by which success will be judged from a broad organisational perspective.

A key element of converting goals into focused SMART objectives is identifying DSS interventions which can deliver on organisational goals. Table 1 below provides examples to illustrate how goals, objectives and decision support tools can relate to each other.

Table 1: Examples of links between organisational goals, project objectives and decision support modules

Organisational goal	Objectives	Examples of decision support tools
Patient safety	Safer prescribing	High risk prescribing alerts in electronic health record (E H R) systems
	Reduce or minimise adverse drug reactions	Drug-drug or drug-condition interaction checker
	Reduce or minimise adverse drug reactions	Medicines guidance and formularies delivered as web and mobile apps
Efficiency	Improving patient flow for unscheduled and urgent care	Referral and discharge guidelines
	Improving patient flow for unscheduled and urgent care	Risk stratification algorithms with associated
	Better usage of diagnostic services	Guidance on test ordering and on interpreting the results
	Better usage of diagnostic services	Integrating diagnostic test recommendations into online ordering systems.
Shift from treatment to preventive care	Targeted risk assessment for patient groups at highest risk of developing diabetes type 2.	Shared decision-making app for risk assessment, referral for diagnostic test, and supporting guidance on approaches for risk reduction.