The healthcare industry is known for producing and storing large amounts of data, some of which has become open information among healthcare organizations, as long as it is not specifically tied to a patients name or personal information. As the healthcare industry continues down the road of going digital, the concept of big data will become increasingly valuable, especially for research and analysis.
So, what exactly is big data as it relates to healthcare? It is massive amounts of data that can be analyzed to determine trends or patterns. This has the potential to turn healthcare into a largely proactive industry, as access to this data will allow healthcare organizations to gain insight into patient care and its outcomes, leading to future improvement.
ACOs, or Accountable Care Organizations, are especially focused on ensuring cost-effective, high quality patient care. Take a look at three key benefits big data will bring to ACOs in healthcare:
1. Lower Costs
As healthcare organizations research, monitor and analyze data, they will find trends that occur around certain conditions, diseases and disorders. This will allow for preventative care in future cases of such conditions, diseases and disorders, alleviating hospital readmissions and decreasing the number of patients who require high-cost care. This, in turn, will lower overall healthcare costs.
2. Higher Patient Engagement
Availability of patient information and statistics allows healthcare providers to focus on the individual needs and cases of each of their patients. With new technology, patients can record their symptoms and track their daily improvement/decline, storing this data and allowing their healthcare provider to monitor and intervene, should a red flag arise.
3. Improved Care
With continued research and analysis of the data available will come more informed, proactive patient care. Healthcare organizations ability to compile massive amounts of data will lead to refined diagnoses and treatment plans.
According to the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology:
As the delivery system evolves from doing things to the patient, to doing things for the patient, to doing things with the patient and designated caregiver as partner, the expectations of patients and caregivers and their cultural attitudes about accountability for their own health will also evolve. This will require a major change in how communication occurs between patients, their caregivers and providers, and even a more significant change in how patients and caregivers can use technology to better care for themselves on multiple levels to stay well, manage a chronic condition, or assume informed control of major life changing decisions and events.
As technology advances, the mHealth revolution is gaining momentum by pushing out patient engagement apps, consequently benefitting ACOs and contributing to the big data movement. A select few of these apps offer features such as step-by-step procedure preparations, track patient compliance, provide procedure and test results, house secure communication and send surveys and questionnaires. However, Smart Clinic is the only app on the market that incorporates all of this essential functionality into one mobile platform.
Are you looking for a cost-effective solution to enhance patient care and communication within your organization? Smart Clinic can help our mHealth app increases patient satisfaction, engagement and compliance. Schedule a live demo today!
