TEC17 Podcast: How Big Data is Changing the Healthcare Industry

Healthcare organizations are constantly exploring new ways to enhance the patient experience before, during and after the interaction with the provider. With the help of strategic partners like WWT, healthcare providers are embracing technology and integrating it into their core services.

Big data and analytic tools provide valuable solutions to healthcare organizations as they look to improve patient and customer experiences. In our "Big Data Solutions in Healthcare" episode of WWT's TEC17 podcast series, Kathleen Nowicke, Keela Davis and Laura Kuehner discuss the challenges healthcare organizations face today, what companies are doing right now to meet these challenges, and how WWT has helped organizations realize improved patient experience using big data.

Making big data initiatives a possibility

Leveraging data and analytics can both improve the quality of patient care and lower the costs of providing this care by using the data to personalize the patient experience. However, many healthcare providers we work with are struggling to bring together thousands of patient data points and enact meaningful applications of the data.

Some of these providers have upwards of 8,000 data sources from millions of patients and no way to standardize the data. This patient data becomes meaningless without an integration partner to normalize the data and provide insights.

WWT's data scientists see this common issue in most healthcare organizations and have the experience across multiple other industries to pull together disparate data sources that offer use-cases, gather insights and help health providers to become more prescriptive and proactive.

How we're using big data

AI and machine data

Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to be a popular discussion in today's tech world. With our help, healthcare providers will be able to use AI and machine data to dig into data sources and drive value while outpacing their competitors.

Data and analytics can also provide a deep learning space for healthcare providers. Using advanced technology as a tool, physicians can read radiological images and quickly identify things not clearly seen by the human eye.

Having access to the most up-to-date technology is crucial for healthcare providers, as they will be able to innovate and stay current on the latest technology trends, ultimately leading to a better and more effective patient experience.

Customized patient care

Further, with the help of big data and WWT, healthcare providers can individualize each patient's experience using information about individual health and past visits.

For example, providers can improve the hospital check-in process by providing visitors with details about exactly what they can expect in their upcoming visit, along with where they need to go in the facility. These features alleviate stress for patients and make it more likely they will return for follow-up visits, driving towards the ultimate goal of outcome-based treatment.

Telehealth

WWT wants to use technology to help to reimagine healthcare for providers and patients alike. Using devices to track personal health data and creating solutions to encourage active participation in personal health will help transform sick care into healthcare.

A great example of this is telemedicine. The telemedicine model allows for patients to get quick, effective treatment on their own time.

Fifteen percent of individuals between the ages of 18 and 30 do not have a primary care physician. The speed and convenience of telemedicine might be the driving force this group of individuals needs to seek out regular care now, which will only benefit them in the future.

Simplifying the complex

Like every industry we work in, providing IT solutions for healthcare organizations is a complex task. Providers cannot purchase one solution and expect that it will change human behavior across different spectrums of consumers.

However, a series of solutions paired with the right change management programs can meet the specific healthcare outcomes that patients are now demanding. WWT helps connect the IT pieces, working alongside the organization to create a strong, complex solution that will meet each organization's unique requirements.