The healthcare industry generates and makes use of gargantuan pools of data regarding both the patients they look after and the systems that make life easier for doctors and nurses. Though the field of data analytics is by no means new, it has emerged as one of the most important tools for the healthcare industry going forward. 

Analytics

Hospitals rely on structured systems in order to run smoothly, and as technology rapidly develops we see more of these systems implemented in the world of healthcare. It is important that everyone working within the systems be on the same page as to how they operate. The people who manage these systems are called healthcare analytics managers and they are an integral part of the healthcare industry.

If you’re considering transitioning to a non-traditional medical career, becoming a healthcare analytics manager is a solid option. The main functions of a healthcare analytics manager are to review established systems and identify any areas that can improve as well as instructing staff on the implementation of new systems and procedures. By collecting and analyzing data regarding patient outcomes and operational data, healthcare analytics managers can streamline medical facilities to make them more effective and cost-efficient.

As more companies look to analytics to improve efficiency and save costs, pursuing a career as a healthcare analytics manager can help you to fill that niche. A healthcare analytics manager can make $93,000 annually on average, and demand is only expected to increase in the coming years. 

Big Data and Future Trends

Technology has proven to have a disruptive effect on the healthcare industry time and time again. As new advancements in technology are introduced to the healthcare industry, hospitals are tasked with keeping their operations up to date and running smoothly. One thing that is making this hurdle a little more manageable is the analysis of big data obtained through telehealth applications.

Telehealth is transforming the business of the healthcare industry. People in rural areas can rely on telehealth to help put them in touch with healthcare professionals for everything from simple communication to providing them with vital statistics pertaining to a chronic illness. Massive pools of data are generated from virtual interactions between patients and healthcare professionals.

The ability to analyze these data lakes is invaluable to the healthcare industry. Effectively using big data in healthcare can result in improved patient outcomes, increased patient satisfaction, and boost quality of service by identifying problems within a system. While analysis of all of this data is important, it is also difficult to produce that analysis in a timely manner. This is where artificial intelligence shines.

Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

While we are still a ways off from having our own personal talking A.I. doctors in our living rooms, A.I. is making life much easier for healthcare companies interested in big data. A.I. and neural networks are able to quickly parse data lakes, providing insight to healthcare analytics managers as to what problems exist in their systems.

With so much of this data being stored online, there is now increased demand for experts in data encryption and healthcare informatics. This can help prevent data breaches, which can expose patients’ electronic health records, resulting in a violation of HIPAA. Keeping patient data secure has always been incredibly important, and now the demand has skyrocketed due to the sheer volume of data that is generated in the healthcare industry. While we can eventually lean on A.I. to deal with the bulk of the tasks surrounding patient privacy through encryption and other means, as of now it still requires a human touch.

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With the healthcare world constantly changing, we need to be ready to change with it. As time goes on, the production of healthcare-related data has the potential to grow exponentially. By pursuing a career in data analytics, you will be staying ahead of the curve while making a tidy profit.