Question

Running head: BIG DATA IN HEATH 1

BIG DATA IN HEATH

Use of big data analysis on the healthcare sector

Name

Institution

Introduction

Big data analysis in healthcare is the immense quantities of health data available and how providers are using technology to store, organize, and analyze health care issues. In the current world, technology has been taking part in almost everything people do or handle (Ryu & Song, 2014). In healthcare, technology has also taken place, and people or patients can now be at rest since the use of technology has minimized the cost of treatment in hospitals/health units where the big data is being used. In the document, I will put more effort into big data analysis in healthcare, its usefulness in the health department, how the achievement of goals has immensely changed the patient’s outcomes, the document will also do SWOT analysis concerning the use of big data in the healthcare sector.

The usefulness of Big Data Analysis in the Healthcare Sector

The convenience of big data is tremendous in the healthcare sector due to rising costs in the industry, for example, in nations like the United States and in China, where the population is highly increasing annually. In other words, prices are a bit higher than the expected reasonable rate, and this has been the case for the past 15 years ( Bhatt et al.,2017). This indicates that we need some well-dressed, data-driven thinking in the healthcare sector. Since the current incentives are changing as well like in many insurance companies; they are switching away from being money-oriented in their business plans that are rewarding using expensive and sometimes unnecessary treatments and treating a large number of patients quickly, but not correctly to policies that prioritize the patient’s needs as well as excellent healthcare services. Another way of cost reduction in big data is that it can help in the reduction of human labor due to the use of machines.

Another importance is that in the earlier system, places that provided healthcare services did not have a direct incentive to share the patient’s information from one end to the other, and this made it difficult to use the power of analysis fully. Now that they get payments according to the patient’s outcomes, they get incentives to share that can be used to improve the patient’s life as well as reducing the cost of insurance companies. Finally, just like in other prominent organizations, the healthcare sector has immensely increased the use of data due to the increased number of patients. These data need to be managed and organized well. With the help of big data in the healthcare sector, the massive amount of data can be achieved.

How the big data has achieved the goal of improving the patient’s outcomes

Big data has immensely achieved the above statement by providing several applications in the healthcare sector, as discussed below. Electronic health records (EHRs): this has been widely used, and it's where every patient has their digital albums which include medical history, allergy, laboratory tests, etc., the system can also give warnings to the patients on when to go back for checkups or if the patients don't follow the doctor’s prescription. Reduction of fraud and enhancing security: the use of big data in health care can help in security issues since the records/data of the patients are kept electronically, and no unauthorized user can access one's files. Teleconferencing: this refers to the delivery of health services remotely using technology. This has been existing for the past 15-20 years, but with the arrival of smart devices like smartphones, video conferencing, etc., it has made it easy for teleconferencing in healthcare to come to boom.

Strengths of big data analysis

The use of Big data analysis has aided in the reduction of cost to the patients since the use of teleconferencing can support rural/home treatment ( Groves et al., 2016). Secondly, it has helped in data security since, by the use of big data in healthcare, no unauthorized user can access a patient's record or any data. The use of big data has also helped in the reduction of much use of paperwork since big data is mostly talking about technology.

Weaknesses of the use of big data in healthcare

Since in big data, there is the use of technology, the value of getting the machines and software might be a little bit expensive than the use of the manual system. Secondly, the use of big data might need some tools that use electricity, and this might be a problem in some rural areas. The other issue that may arise due to the use of big data analysis in the healthcare unit is that some machines that are being used in big data only require professional persons to operate them, and the person may be limited.

Opportunities for the use of big data analysis in healthcare

The use of big data in health care can create a lot of opportunities in the healthcare sector since technology is vast and keeps on changing daily, and this might create a full-range system being designed( Groves et al., 2016). Another possibility that might arise due to the use of big data in the healthcare sector is that it can help the patients to get their medication in the house since the use of teleconferencing can allow a doctor to see a patient wherever he/she is.

Threats of the use of big data in the healthcare center

Some of the risks that might arise in the health sector due to the use of big data are that it might lay off some people from their jobs since big data encourages the use of machines more than manual labor. Secondly, tools used in big data might lead to the cause of some health issues since the tools use magnetic waves which are not good enough with the human body ( Groves et al., 2016). As I conclude in this SWOT analysis, the patient's outcome can mostly be improved by the use of big data in most healthcare units. This can be done in a way that the country's government can provide incentives to ensure that most healthcare units are using big data analysis to attend to the patients.

Benefits of the big data on the healthcare sector

There are several benefits to the use of big data analysis in the healthcare sector. To the patients, they can get healthcare services from wherever they are, and this helps in saving the transport cost as they can speak directly to their doctors via teleconferencing. Secondly, the patients are also able to track or see their health records or status even by the use of electronic health records. Now to the healthcare organizations, they are capable of minimizing congestion in the hospital since the patients can get their medication even from home (Wang et al., 2018). Another benefit to the organization is that they are capable of ensuring that all their health records and data are secured without any unauthorized user accessing the information. The health organization will also be able to save resources since the use of technology can lie off some human resource since it's more of technology than the manual work. Lastly, the organization is also capable of researching on how to tackle the newly evolving diseases since it can use the internet to do research ( Groves et al., 2016). The last people that might benefit from the use of big data in a healthcare facility are the big data providers; the providers will be able to create their job opportunities in life that will help them in survival. Another benefit is that they will be able to educate people on the benefits of the use of big data, and this will lead many to use it hence more opportunities arising.

Conclusion

In conclusion, big data analysis has helped in the day to day life coverage in the health sector. As per my take, big data in health should be highly encouraged, for example, a country that needs to use big data in its healthcare facilities can even enact it as a low in the usage of big data in public facilities. The government can also provide some incentives in boosting the use of big data in the country's healthcare facilities ( Lo’ai et al.,2016). The government can also offer free education on the use of big data in health care centers. On the other hand, too much use of big data on the patient's health is not that good since it might cause some challenges arising from the magnetic waves being emitted by electronic devices, some might come due to the infrared rays that are being issued by some gadgets, etc

References

Bhatt, C., Dey, N., & Ashour, A. S. (Eds.). (2017). Internet of things and big data technologies for next-generation healthcare.

Groves, P., Kayyali, B., Knott, D., & Kuiken, S. V. (2016). The'big data revolution in healthcare: Accelerating value and innovation.

Lo’ai, A. T., Mehmood, R., Benkhlifa, E., & Song, H. (2016). Mobile cloud computing model and big data analysis for healthcare applications.  IEEE Access,  4, 6171-6180.

Ryu, S., & Song, T. M. (2014). Big data analysis in healthcare.

Wang, Y., Kung, L., & Byrd, T. A. (2018). Big data analytics: Understanding its capabilities and potential benefits for healthcare organizations.  Technological Forecasting and Social Change,  126, 3-13.