How Big Data Can Affect Healthcare

Featured article by Rick DelGado, Independent Technology Author

Big data, the byproduct of modern technology, has been playing a significant role in improving the quality of care and transforming the healthcare industry. Big data holds a lot of potential for the benefit of the healthcare industry. Since this data is generated from real-life medical and healthcare cases and not from any theoretical or hypothetical assumptions, it can be used as an effective instrument in drug administration, healthcare management, population healthcare, telemedicine as well as in precision medicine and preemptive care.

Here is an insight into some major ways in which big data is transforming the domain of medical and healthcare.

Better Preemptive Measures

Big data analytics provides elaborate insights into health records and case histories and makes accurate forecasts about the risk of recurrence of the disease. Since this data is gained from actual health care cases, the inference deduced from its analysis can be used in a generalized scope to prevent a number of common disorders such as sepsis infection and a number of post-surgical infections.

Remote Healthcare

Gone are the days when the patient has to meet the physician in person for regular checkups or rush to the hospitals in the case of a healthcare emergency. Big data, EHR and EMR related to an individual’s case history have fuelled the evolution of telemedicine and remote healthcare.

The patients can stay in the loop with their physicians through digital means and seek instance guidance and support whenever the need be. Telemedicine and remote healthcare has significantly reduced the costs of healthcare at the patient’s end and has also reduced the business cost for healthcare practitioners.

Better Self-Care

Elaborate data insights into healthcare have empowered the individuals to take charge of their health and stay informed about their health status, particularly if they are suffering from any acute or chronic ailment.

Big data has provided the individuals with all the right tools to monitor their health, and stay regularly informed about their physical conditions without having to wait on the results of their next checkup appointment. Smartphone applications and wearable devices maintain an updated database of an individual’s health.

Not only do they keep you informed about your fitness and nutritional needs, the smart sensors of wearable devices can efficiently record the symptoms of physical stress and brain function that might change in the aftermath of an imbalance in the human body.

Efficient Population Health Management

Big Data analytics provide comprehensive data insights into health conditions of a population and has become a core element modern epidemiology. EMRs, data analytical tools and elaborate information recorded through smart data tools have made it convenient for federal healthcare institutions to seek accurate insights into the healthcare trends of a specific region.

The efficient and on-point assessment of data related to the health condition of the population as well as the epidemics recorded in the past enables the healthcare analysts and concerned authorities to make predictions related to the population’s health identify the epidemics that might sprout up in future. This way, the healthcare authorities can take proactive measures to minimize the consequences.

by Rick DelGado, Independent Author

“I’ve been blessed to have a successful career and have recently taken a step back to pursue my passion of writing. I’ve started doing freelance writing and I love to write about new technologies and how it can help us and our planet.” – Rick DelGado