How Healthcare Data Analytics Can Influence Patient Care

  For most of human history, the world of medicine has been based on trial and error. This is still the case in some situations; however, more and more healthcare organizations are adopting analytics to allow professionals in this industry to develop insightful solutions. There are many ways that people’s lives can be directly improved by these developments. Here are some ways healthcare analytics can influence patient care.

Cost of Treatment Affected by Efficiency of Care

There are many factors that affect how much a patient will be billed for various medical needs. The protocol put in place by a specific healthcare provider can have an enormous impact on the total cost associated with treating an issue. Healthcare analytics has the potential to make a huge impact on this. By strategically leveraging huge swaths of data, healthcare professionals can identify better methods of treatment. It’s possible to use predictive analytics to model the likelihood of possible outcomes based on past cases. This will help doctors and researchers arrive at more accurate conclusions in less time—ultimately easing burden from the patient.

Lower Chances of Readmission if Discharged at Correct Time

Readmissions are a huge issue in the healthcare world. Not only do readmissions potentially imply that a patient’s care fell short in some way, they can be costly to institutions under Affordable Care Act regulations. Healthcare analytics can play a role in minimizing readmissions. The healthcare industry has one huge advantage when it comes to utilizing data: massive amounts of raw information. Using past occurrences to better predict the possibility of readmission can be a win-win for patients and healthcare providers.

Find Ways to Lower Wait Times

Wait times are an unfortunate reality at all kinds of healthcare institutions. Whether it’s the emergency room or a family doctor, you’re probably going to need to wait in order to be seen by someone. In fact, the wait time for scheduled appointments has increased by about 30 percent since 2014. This means there’s room for healthcare analytics to find ways to improve here. Having to wait too long to see your doctor can potentially be the difference between a happy and healthy patient, and a sickly unnerved patient —even if their condition isn’t particularly serious.

Clinical Trials Enhanced

Research and clinical trials are the invisible backbone of the healthcare industry. Patients almost never come into contact with this field, unless they’re receiving some kind of experimental care. However, developments here are critically important to the future of medicine. This is why there’s so much to be gained from putting data to work in this realm. Researchers are already using machine learning and AI to develop next-generation treatments for issues that have been confounding humanity for years. Even though patients aren’t always directly involved in this process, they are the ones who are going to benefit most from breakthroughs thanks to healthcare analytics.

Collect Patient Data in Real-Time

Another trends in the healthcare analytics world right now is collecting real-time data from patients. This can include vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure, or even blood sugar levels for people who suffer from diabetes. Gathering this information can do a few things. First, it can spot abnormalities in the short- and long-term. This will help clue healthcare providers in to any areas that need extra attention that might have been overlooked otherwise. It can also help doctors identify individuals who might benefit from preventative care—saving individuals time, money, and heartache down the line. There are few industries that are more complex than healthcare. Luckily data analytics is making it easier for professionals to give individuals the best treatment possible and patient care.