It’s easy to take data for granted. For many of us, data seems to simply materialize for our benefit. The methods by which data is collected is invisible to nearly all, save the individuals responsible for its acquisition; and prior to the arrival of Big Data, this information was collected painstakingly over great lengths of time and often resulted in incomplete or false information.
Traditionally, data was – and, in part, largely still is – collected by means of paper forms. In the world of healthcare, these forms come from various sources, including physician offices, patient histories, X-ray scans, hospital records, and surveys performed via telephone, email, and door-to-door visits. To be integrated into any form of computerized system, this data has to then be entered manually by groups of individuals over weeks, months, and even years of meticulous work.
Not surprisingly, this process of data collection often results in inaccurate figures, lost or overlooked information, and discrepancies that can taint and disrupt further findings. Unfortunately, in the world of patient safety, these inaccuracies can ultimately lead to jeopardizing the health and well-being of individuals, as well as shadowing and dismissing more pertinent and accurate information that can lead to improved overall outcomes.
Enter Big Data
Big Data is a relatively new concept in the healthcare industry, and its full potential has yet to be realized. By using integrated systems and technologies, data can now be collected via electronic medical records, the Internet, and across vast communities – easily, efficiently, and with far less human error than ever before.
Big Data is gathered from several sources. Once gathered, the information can be shared between caregivers, physicians, and various other medical professionals. This data can then be systematically reviewed and analyzed to create better understanding and implementation of medicines, healthcare tools, procedures, and practices to ensure improved care.
Even better, using carefully created algorithms as the fuel for artificial intelligence, data bases can be continually mined – in real time – with flags and alerts that can prevent negative events from occurring. For instance, such systems are currently in place to predict outbreaks of infections in hospitals, based on ongoing analysis of data that only computer systems could manage.
Furthermore, Big Data can draw from sources that weren’t previously available, such as wearable technologies and devices used in conjunction with telemedicine. Software can also be developed to aid in new data collection from communities across the globe using limited technology.
Improving patient safety
In addition to improved methods and capabilities of collecting information, Big Data also reduces the cost of patient care and helps organize and streamline efforts toward improving patient safety and clinical outcomes. By using software developed to integrate broad-population health data, caregivers can now view information from multiple sources and communities through a single application.
By reducing variables such as human error and inaccurately inputted information, lowering the amount of time it takes to collect data, and organizing that data into well-structured applications, Big Data can help improve every aspect of the healthcare industry. From disease management and prescription performance to patient safety and improved outcomes, Big Data is sure to make a lasting impact in the healthcare industry.