Transforming Healthcare Analytics

The healthcare industry continues to face challenges in reducing costs and improving outcomes. Although healthcare is improving, many problems remain: longer wait times, shorter patient time with doctors, and redundant processes for each point of contact, to name but a few. Clinicians have become data clerks—their notes inadequately captured and communicated within the healthcare ecosystem. Healthcare data is overwhelming practitioners to such a degree that they are unable to fully review, correctly diagnose, and provide treatment for ailments in a timely manner. Innovative analytical technologies addressing such problems in healthcare are readily available, yet they are often not implemented or considered viable solutions in many instances. Transforming Healthcare Analytics: The Quest for Healthy Intelligence explains how healthcare professionals can transform their industry by integrating technology with people and process to gain operational and strategic intelligence. The text considers the future of healthcare in the context of digital transformation with cloud, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

Presenting unique insights based on their respective backgrounds in finance and in technology, authors Michael N. Lewis and Tho H. Nguyen offer real-world cases of healthcare problems addressed by insight-driven decisions while emphasizing the importance of people, process, and technology. The authors first highlight critical analytical and business skills, the need to recruit, train, and organize analytic talent, ways to change sponsorship culture, and the pressing issues that could be solved with current and emerging technologies. Subsequent chapters cover topics including the three core elements of process, the business problem of healthcare, how analytics can improve decision-making, process change within an organization, and the need for creating a repeatable, sustainable playbook based on data-driven insights. A complete overview of available technology is followed by a practical, actionable framework for developing a comprehensive analytics strategy.

Improving an organization through data analytics requires assembling cross-functional teams, providing clear leadership, fostering analytic talent throughout organizations, and applying available technologies effectively and efficiently. Designed for decision makers, analysts, and healthcare professionals, Transforming Healthcare Analytics: The Quest for Healthy Intelligence is an important resource for understanding how technology—coupled with people and process—is leading the way to the digital transformation in healthcare.