Big data has entered every other industry then why can’t we expect it to take over the healthcare industry. Do you know that hospitals can trim down their readmission rates if they use the big data analytics? This can help them deliver better care, improve patient engagement along with improving the communication across the entire care continuum.
The healthcare industry has to spend billions of dollars on preventable services each year and that also includes readmissions. When readmission rates are reduced, this will enable hospitals to move forward and focus more on patient care. Here are some ways big data analytics could be helping hospitals:
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Use technology for leveraging patient care
For reducing the readmission rate, providers can utilize the data-driven patent engagement tools for improving their treatment plan. Patients must be educated about their plans. They must know how to detect the warning signs. It would be great if health care providers could help patients in monitoring chronic conditions using electronic devices from their homes. These devices could transmit patient data such as blood glucose level, body weight etc.
Use clinical decision support tools
Big data could help providers by giving them access to the right data for deciding how to best treat the patient. Doctors can’t make any decision unless they have access to their medical histories, current medications, and their lifestyle choices. Organizations can use tools for clinical decision support. These tools can assist the healthcare providers in analyzing large datasets and reduce unnecessary health care.
Improved care and communication
It is challenging to deliver coordinated and comprehensive care throughout the clinical process. Even the slightest lack of collaboration could become a significant barrier to care coordination.
To make sure the patients don’t re-renter the hospital after leaving, it is essential to provide accurate health information. Your patients must fully understand the treatment plans provided so that they move back to their home and start acting upon that plan. This could only happen if there is a seamless exchange of communication and coordination among clinicians.
Develop predictive analytics capabilities
When healthcare providers examine patient data organized by big data analytics, they can see which factors will impact the future health outcomes of their patients. This could help them in developing risk scores and some predictive algos for creating a care plan that is tailored made.
There are some organizations that feel they don t have enough data for building these capabilities. However, from research, it has been proven that even with less than perfect data, you can create predictive models. For instance, a protective analytics algo was developed by the University of Washington Tacoma for flagging 30 days readmissions for patients with heart failure. Common clinical and demographic metrics were used for this purpose. They were able to function even without the use of certain variables. This proved that even if providers don’t have enough data, they can still make things work.
Big data can help healthcare organizations in more than these ways. In fact, they are just a few to name. You can only experience its beauty when it’s put into use.
