As Israel’s first virtual hospital, Sheba Beyond has quickly established itself as a provider of medical services that offer human-centered healthcare in the comfort of the patient’s home. Beyond has embraced an innovative virtual care model and technologies that are improving standards of care.
Beyond supports dozens of virtual clinics, staffed by more than 100 clinical professionals across various fields. These clinics collectively perform more than 40,000 telehealth visits annually.
THE CHALLENGE
Before integrating advanced data tools into Sheba Beyond’s workflow, one of the most pressing challenges at Sheba Medical Center was the inefficiency of traditional methods for gathering and analyzing patient information.
Decision making often relied on fragmented data spread across multiple systems. This siloed approach hindered the ability to take a holistic view of patient care, making it difficult to identify patterns, predict outcomes and implement proactive interventions.
Additionally, the time required to access and process data was a significant barrier. Clinicians often waited weeks or even months to receive analyzed data from centralized teams. By the time insights were delivered, the opportunity for timely interventions had often passed.
This delay was particularly detrimental in critical care and chronic disease management, where timely decisions can dramatically affect patient outcomes.
“Moreover, empowering clinicians with actionable insights was a challenge,” said Dr. Ronen Loebstein is the director of Sheba Adams Data Center and director of Sheba’s Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology. “While they were eager to use data to improve care, the tools at their disposal were neither intuitive nor flexible.
“As a result, they depended heavily on data experts for every request, creating bottlenecks and limiting innovation at the point of care,” he added.
PROPOSAL
Recognizing these hurdles, Sheba Medical Center proposed adopting a self-service data platform to streamline access to information and empower clinicians directly. The idea was simple but transformative: Provide a system where clinicians, researchers and administrators could independently access and analyze data in real time without needing technical expertise.
“The proposed model aimed to break down data silos and centralize all patient and operational information in a secure, standardized environment,” Loebstein explained. “This centralization would enable users to explore relationships and trends in the data, facilitating the development of predictive models and evidence-based practices.
“To address the delays in data availability, the platform promised to enable immediate access to deidentified, real-time patient data,” he continued. “This meant clinicians could test hypotheses, monitor patient cohorts and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions without waiting for lengthy approval or analysis processes. The vision was to create a feedback loop where insights could lead to immediate action, which would then inform further data-driven strategies.”
Lastly, the proposal emphasized user-friendly interfaces and training programs to ensure adoption across the organization. By enabling clinicians to use data intuitively, the platform aimed to foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, he added.
MEETING THE CHALLENGE
The implementation of the Adams Center platform at Sheba Medical Center transformed how staff used data. The platform was designed to integrate seamlessly with existing systems, including electronic health records and hospital management systems. This integration ensured that data flows were uninterrupted and provided a comprehensive view of patient journeys and clinical workflows.
“Sheba Beyond became a leading example of how data from the Adams Center was used to support innovative healthcare solutions,” Loebstein noted. “Established as Israel’s first virtual hospital, Sheba Beyond was designed to provide human-centered healthcare services in the comfort of patients’ homes. Its groundbreaking approaches include telemedicine, remote monitoring programs and hybrid care models, which leverage advanced technologies such as AI-powered devices and data-driven governance to redefine care delivery.
“For instance, in the maternal-child area, Sheba Beyond demonstrated the use of cutting-edge technologies to replace components of the maternal-fetal assessment,” he continued. “This prospective pilot study introduced hybrid care – alternating standard in-clinic visits with remote visits.”
For example, Sheba Beyond’s high-risk maternal-fetal telemedicine program has allowed pregnant women to receive detailed fetal and maternal surveillance remotely, reducing the need for hospitalization while maintaining clinical safety and improving the patient experience. Hybrid care combined the benefits of in-person treatment with an improved patient journey.
Key findings included:
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High feasibility and satisfaction. 97.4% of remote visits were successful, with participants scoring 6.6/7 in the Telehealth Usability Questionnaire.
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Time efficiency. Remote visits significantly reduced median durations, from 159 minutes (in-clinic) to just 59 minutes.
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Improved adherence. Glucose monitoring adherence increased with hybrid care, from 62% in standard care to 92%.
“The platform also supported initiatives such as reducing bottlenecks in a busy endoscopy unit and improving operational efficiency in critical departments,” Loebstein noted. “Clinicians, researchers and administrators became direct users of the platform. Training sessions equipped them to extract, analyze and visualize data independently.
“The self-service model was a cornerstone of this implementation,” he continued. “The Adams Center approach also transformed the organizational culture, shifting it toward a bottom-line-driven approach to change management. Each department became fiscally responsible for implementing data-driven process improvement, ensuring accountability and aligning initiatives with overall institutional goals.”
By optimizing the use of IT and data science teams for more complex analyses, the organization empowered users to take ownership of their projects. This approach ensured that resources were utilized more efficiently, aligning efforts with institutional priorities and fostering a culture of proactive problem-solving.
“This shift not only reduced bottlenecks but also encouraged a more proactive approach to problem-solving,” Loebstein reported. “Additionally, the platform’s capabilities in generating synthetic data allowed us to conduct extensive testing and modeling without compromising patient privacy.
“This feature was crucial for fostering collaboration with external partners and driving research initiatives,” he said. “The system’s interoperability and real-time capabilities enabled Sheba Medical Center to operate at the forefront of healthcare innovation, bridging the gap between data insights and clinical action.”
RESULTS
First, reduction in time to insights. The implementation of the Adams Center platform significantly reduced the time required to generate actionable insights. Previously, a single query could take months to process.
With the new platform, clinicians and researchers could access and analyze data within minutes. This efficiency supported improvements such as streamlined processes in endoscopy units and improved decision making in the ED.
Second, improved patient outcomes. Using the platform, Sheba Medical Center implemented data-driven care models that enhanced patient outcomes. For instance, in the ED and ICU, the platform enabled the reduction of unnecessary lab draws and imaging, minimizing patient exposure to potentially harmful procedures while maintaining high standards of care.
Similarly, antibiotic stewardship programs benefited from the platform’s ability to track and analyze prescription trends, ensuring more judicious use of medications.
And third, enhanced operational efficiency. Operational improvements included reduced bottlenecks in busy units and more efficient resource allocation. For example, the platform’s data insights allowed Sheba to safely decrease the use of costly medications by substituting them with less expensive alternatives without compromising patient outcomes.
Additionally, hybrid care models demonstrated in Sheba Beyond showcased improved patient satisfaction and adherence while reducing the burden on clinical facilities.
ADVICE FOR OTHERS
“For healthcare organizations considering leveraging data to improve patient outcomes, the key is to start with a clear vision of what you want to achieve,” Loebstein advised. “Define your goals and identify the specific challenges data can help address. Whether it’s reducing readmission rates, improving diagnosis accuracy or enhancing operational efficiency, having a focused objective will guide your efforts.
“It’s equally important to prioritize user empowerment,” he continued. “Choose a platform that is intuitive and accessible to non-technical users. Clinicians and administrators are the ones on the frontlines. So, giving them the tools to access and analyze data directly will accelerate adoption and drive meaningful results.”
Finally, he said, foster a culture of collaboration and continuous learning.
“Data-driven healthcare is not a one-time project; it’s an ongoing journey,” he concluded. “Invest in training, encourage cross-departmental sharing of insights and continuously iterate based on the results you observe. The combination of the right technology, empowered users and a commitment to improvement is the foundation for success in this space.”
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Email him: bsiwicki@himss.org
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