Tom and Jerry: The Cat and Mouse Game of VBC Dashboards

Week 6 of The VBC Whisperer Newsletter

Let's be honest about VBC dashboards...

You know that feeling when you open your VBC dashboard and immediately want to close your laptop? When the numbers are flashing red, the graphs look like abstract art, and you're not sure if you're winning or losing the value-based care game?

Welcome to the Tom and Jerry show of healthcare analytics.

Just like that classic cartoon, VBC dashboards often feel like an endless chase scene. Sometimes you're Tom, frantically pursuing that elusive quality score. Sometimes you're Jerry, dodging the latest metric that seems designed to trip you up. And just when you think you've got everything under control, WHAM! - a new measure appears out of nowhere.

But here's what I've learned after years of dashboard drama: The chase doesn't have to be chaotic.

The Classic Tom and Jerry Dashboard Scenarios

Scenario 1: The "Endless Chase" You know this one - Tom chases Jerry through the house, breaking everything in his path.

Your Dashboard Version: You're chasing that HEDIS score, clicking through seventeen different screens, pulling reports that don't match, and somehow making your numbers worse in the process.

The Real Problem: You're reacting to every metric instead of focusing on what actually moves the needle.

Scenario 2: The "Booby Trap" Jerry sets elaborate traps that backfire spectacularly on Tom.

Your Dashboard Version: You think you've figured out how to game the system, only to discover your "improvement" in one area tanked three others you didn't know were connected.

The Real Problem: You're optimizing for individual metrics instead of understanding the whole picture.

Scenario 3: The "False Victory" Tom thinks he's finally caught Jerry, only to realize he's holding a decoy mouse.

Your Dashboard Version: Your dashboard shows green across the board, but your actual patient outcomes haven't improved (and your revenue is still struggling).

The Real Problem: You're measuring activity instead of impact.

The Tom and Jerry Dashboard Personality Types

Are you Tom or Jerry when it comes to your VBC data?

The "Tom" Approach (The Aggressive Chaser)

•Opens dashboard daily, sometimes hourly

•Panics at every red number

•Tries to fix everything at once

•Burns out team with constant metric monitoring

•Focuses on short-term wins that don't last

Sound familiar? You might be a Tom if you've ever said: "Why is this number red? It was green yesterday! Everyone drop everything and fix this!"

The "Jerry" Approach (The Clever Dodger)

•Avoids looking at dashboard for weeks

•Gets creative with explanations for poor performance

•Focuses on metrics that are easiest to improve

•Finds workarounds instead of real solutions

•Celebrates small wins while ignoring big problems

Sound familiar? You might be a Jerry if you've ever said: "Well, technically we did improve that one measure by 0.2%..."

The "Spike" Approach (The Innocent Bystander)

Remember Spike, the bulldog who just wanted to sleep?

•Completely ignores dashboard until someone forces them to look

•Delegates all data analysis to others

•Assumes everything is fine until proven otherwise

•Gets blindsided by poor performance reports

Sound familiar? You might be a Spike if you've ever said: "Wait, we have a dashboard?"

The Plot Twist: What if Tom and Jerry Worked Together?

Here's the thing about Tom and Jerry cartoons - they're actually better when they team up against a common enemy. And that's exactly what you need to do with your VBC dashboard.

Stop fighting your data. Start partnering with it.

The VBC Dashboard Peace Treaty: 5 Rules for Ending the Chase

Rule #1: Pick Your Battles (Like Jerry Picking His Hiding Spots)

Jerry doesn't run from Tom randomly - he has strategic hiding places. You need strategic focus areas too.

Instead of: Trying to improve all 47 quality measures at once Try this: Pick 3-5 measures that have the biggest impact on patient outcomes AND revenue

The Jerry Strategy: Focus on measures where small improvements create big results. Jerry doesn't waste energy on fights he can't win.

Rule #2: Set Traps for Success (Like Jerry's Elaborate Plans)

Jerry's best episodes involve careful planning, not just reactive running. Your dashboard strategy needs the same approach.

Instead of: Reacting to whatever's red today Try this: Create monthly "trap" plans - systematic approaches to improve specific metrics

The Jerry Strategy: Plan three moves ahead. If you improve diabetes care coordination this month, what will that do to your HbA1c scores next quarter?

Rule #3: Know When to Call a Truce (Like Those Rare Peaceful Moments)

Even Tom and Jerry occasionally stop fighting and work together. Sometimes your dashboard is telling you to pause and reassess.

Instead of: Pushing harder when numbers aren't improving Try this: Step back and ask "What is this data really telling me about my patients?"

The Tom Strategy: Sometimes the chase isn't working. Tom's most successful moments come when he changes tactics entirely.

Rule #4: Use Your Whole Team (Like When Other Characters Help)

The best Tom and Jerry episodes include other characters - Tuffy, Spike, even the house owners. Your dashboard success needs a full cast too.

Instead of: Making dashboard review a solo activity Try this: Create specific roles for team members in data monitoring and improvement

The Ensemble Strategy:

•Your "Jerry" (Care Coordinator): Quick, agile, knows all the hiding spots where problems develop

•Your "Tom" (Quality Manager): Persistent, focused, good at systematic pursuit of improvements

•Your "Spike" (Medical Assistant): Protective of workflow, alerts you when something's disrupting patient care

Rule #5: Remember It's Entertainment, Not Life or Death (Most of the Time)

Tom and Jerry's chases are ultimately entertainment. Your dashboard drama doesn't have to be a daily crisis.

Instead of: Treating every metric like an emergency Try this: Distinguish between "red alert" metrics and "keep an eye on it" metrics

The Cartoon Strategy: Most dashboard "disasters" are like cartoon explosions - they look dramatic but everyone's fine in the next scene.

The Real Talk: Why Dashboards Feel Like Cartoons

Let's address the elephant (or cat, or mouse) in the room:

Problem #1: "My dashboard looks like it was designed by someone who's never seen a patient"

You're not wrong. Many VBC dashboards are built by people who understand data but not clinical workflow.

The Solution: Stop trying to use the dashboard the way it was designed. Use it the way that makes sense for patient care.

Problem #2: "The numbers change faster than Tom's disguises"

Also not wrong. VBC metrics often have lag times, adjustments, and retroactive changes that make your head spin.

The Solution: Focus on trends, not daily fluctuations. Jerry doesn't panic every time Tom appears - he looks at the pattern.

Problem #3: "I feel like I'm in a cartoon where the rules keep changing"

Completely valid. VBC measures do evolve, benchmarks shift, and what worked last year might not work this year.

The Solution: Build adaptable systems, not rigid processes. Jerry survives because he's flexible, not because he follows the same escape route every time.

Your VBC Dashboard Transformation Plan

Week 1: The Reconnaissance Mission (Be Jerry)

•Spend 30 minutes exploring your dashboard without trying to fix anything

•Identify which metrics actually connect to patient outcomes you care about

•Note which numbers make you panic vs. which ones you ignore

•Ask yourself: "If I were Jerry, where would I hide from this data?"

Week 2: The Strategic Planning (Channel Your Inner Jerry)

•Pick 3 metrics that matter most to your patients AND your bottom line

•Create simple tracking outside your dashboard (yes, a spreadsheet is fine)

•Identify which team members should "own" which metrics

•Plan your first "trap" - one systematic improvement to one metric

Week 3: The Team Assembly (Get Your Cartoon Cast Together)

•Assign dashboard roles to team members based on their strengths

•Create a 15-minute weekly "Tom and Jerry Review" meeting

•Establish "red alert" vs. "keep watching" criteria for each metric

•Practice explaining one dashboard metric in terms your patients would understand

Week 4: The New Routine (End the Chase, Start the Partnership)

•Implement your weekly dashboard review with the team

•Focus on trends and patterns, not daily drama

•Celebrate one small improvement (even if other things are still red)

•Plan next month's strategic focus based on what you learned

The Dashboard Scripts That Actually Work

Script #1: The "Jerry Perspective" Team Meeting

"Okay team, let's look at this dashboard like Jerry looking at Tom's latest scheme. What patterns do we see? Where are the opportunities? What's the real threat vs. what just looks scary?"

Script #2: The "Tom Strategy" Improvement Plan

"We're going to be strategic like Tom in his best episodes. We're not chasing every metric. We're picking our target, making a plan, and sticking to it for the next 30 days."

Script #3: The "Cartoon Logic" Reality Check

"Remember, this is like a cartoon - the dramatic explosions usually aren't as bad as they look, and there's always another episode tomorrow. Let's focus on the trend, not today's crisis."

Advanced Dashboard Strategies: Beyond the Basic Chase

The "Jerry's Mousehole" Approach: Creating Safe Spaces

Just like Jerry has his mousehole, you need dashboard "safe spaces" - metrics you know you're doing well on that you can check when everything else feels chaotic.

Your Dashboard Mousehole: Identify 2-3 metrics where you consistently perform well. When dashboard anxiety hits, check these first to remind yourself you're not failing at everything.

The "Tom's Gadgets" Approach: Using Tools Strategically

Tom's elaborate contraptions usually backfire, but when he uses simple, well-designed tools, he's more successful.

Your Dashboard Gadgets: Stop trying to use every feature of your dashboard. Pick 3-4 simple reports that give you the information you need and ignore the rest.

The "Spike's Intervention" Approach: Knowing When to Get Help

When Tom and Jerry's chase threatens Spike's sleep, he intervenes decisively.

Your Dashboard Spike: Identify what dashboard situations require outside help (consultant, vendor support, medical group assistance) vs. what you can handle internally.

The Reality Check: What Your Dashboard Can and Can't Do

Your Dashboard CAN:

•Show you trends in patient outcomes over time

•Help you identify which improvement efforts are working

•Alert you to potential problems before they become crises

•Provide data for conversations with payers and administrators

Your Dashboard CANNOT:

•Tell you why a patient didn't show up for their appointment

•Replace clinical judgment about individual patient care

•Solve workflow problems that require human solutions

•Make your practice successful without good patient relationships

The Tom and Jerry Wisdom:

The best episodes aren't about who wins the chase - they're about the creative problem-solving along the way. Your dashboard success isn't about perfect scores; it's about using data to solve real problems for real patients.

Your Personal Dashboard Personality Assessment

Answer honestly:

1.When you see a red metric on your dashboard, your first reaction is: a) Panic and try to fix it immediately (Tom) b) Look for an explanation that makes it not your fault (Jerry) c) Ignore it and hope it goes away (Spike)

2.Your ideal dashboard review meeting lasts: a) 2 hours - we need to analyze everything! (Tom) b) 15 minutes - just hit the highlights (Jerry) c) What dashboard review meeting? (Spike)

3.When your numbers improve, you: a) Immediately look for the next problem to solve (Tom) b) Celebrate briefly, then worry it won't last (Jerry) c) Assume someone else deserves the credit (Spike)

Mostly A's (Tom): You care deeply but might be burning out your team. Try the Jerry approach - strategic focus over frantic chasing.

Mostly B's (Jerry): You're clever but might be avoiding the hard problems. Try the Tom approach - sustained effort on the metrics that matter most.

Mostly C's (Spike): You're overwhelmed and need to start small. Pick one metric, one team member, and one simple improvement plan.

The Happy Ending: When the Chase Becomes a Dance

The best Tom and Jerry episodes end with mutual respect, even if they're back to chasing each other tomorrow. Your relationship with your VBC dashboard can evolve the same way.

Instead of: Dashboard as enemy to defeat Think: Dashboard as dance partner to coordinate with

Instead of: Perfect scores as the goal Think: Continuous improvement as the journey

Instead of: Data as judgment Think: Data as information for better patient care

Your "Tom and Jerry" Dashboard Mantras

When you're feeling like Tom (frustrated and frantic): "I don't need to catch every mouse today. I just need to focus on the one that matters most."

When you're feeling like Jerry (clever but avoidant): "I can't hide from this forever. Let me pick one safe way to engage with this data."

When you're feeling like Spike (overwhelmed and angry): "This dashboard chaos is disrupting my real work. Time to set some boundaries."

The Final Frame: Making Peace with Your Data

Here's what I want you to remember: Tom and Jerry have been chasing each other for over 80 years, and they're both still here. Your relationship with your VBC dashboard doesn't have to be perfect - it just has to be sustainable.

The real victory isn't perfect dashboard scores. It's using your data to provide better care for your patients while maintaining your sanity and your team's morale.

The real success isn't ending the chase. It's making the chase more strategic, more collaborative, and maybe even a little bit fun.

Because at the end of the day, both Tom and Jerry are trying to protect what matters to them. You're trying to protect your patients, your practice, and your peace of mind.

And that's a chase worth having.

What's your biggest Tom and Jerry dashboard moment? Share your VBC data drama (and victories!) in the comments - because we're all in this cartoon together.

Next week: We're diving into "High School Musical: Building Your VBC All-Star Team" - because every practice needs its Troy, Gabriella, and Sharpay to make VBC work!

© 2025 The VBC Whisperer | Dr. Janell Wilson

Ready to stop chasing your dashboard and start partnering with it? Download the free "VBC Dashboard Decoder" worksheet - your guide to turning data chaos into strategic clarity.