‘Big Data’ is a buzz phrase that you hear a lot these days,
but not necessarily something that you hear being associated with healthcare.
Other industries like the airlines or just about any manufacturing company has
used big data to analyze the hundreds of thousands and millions of flights, or used
when producing a ‘widget’ that millions of Americans use. Big data has been
effective for these industries for over a decade for the simple fact that these
industries can use information to predict demand of their services.
Recently the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has supported an
initiative that is examining whether the ACA’s health policy coverage expansion has been as
effective for patients and healthcare providers. The foundation used data from
14,300 providers caring for about 5.8 million patients. Some of the results of
this initiative were fascinating.
“There was no evidence that patients with previously
untreated illnesses were taxing primary care capacity during the first nine
months of 2014 (though new patients may require more time to schedule and
attend appointments). New patient visits to primary care doctors represented
21.8% of all visits this year through September, compared with 21.6% for the
same months in 2013. And minimal changes in national rates of three major
chronic diseases—diabetes, high-blood pressure and elevated cholesterol—
provided no support for the concern that new patients were sicker than they
have been in the past.”
This kind of data analysis can help everyone involved in
healthcare from patients, physicians, hospital facilities and even health policy
makers. Using this data analysis is easier said than done however. Let’s not
forget that healthcare information is highly protected by HIPPA laws, and is
worth millions of dollars by those trying to hack into systems and steal this
information.
Be that as it may, the value for healthcare managers by
leveraging this information is there, and should be used effectively in the future.
Share your Thoughts:
Do you think using healthcare data can help health policy more focused and effective? Do you think these types of analyses are important for tax payers and politicians to use in shaping American health policy? Do you think the results discussed are of interest?
Thank you to Baylor University MBA in Healthcare program for helping their students focus on real world health care practice and policy.
Sources:
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