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The last decade has proved that data is the foundation upon which future innovation depends. Irrespective of the industry you are representing, you have to own a piece of data tech to stay relevant and make your business future proof. So it is not a big surprise when big data and data analytics have stepped inside essential services like the food industry, healthcare industry, defence, etc. The scope for the services to reach the masses and optimize the existing services provided to the people can be significantly increased if integrated with big data. With the latest technologies available in analysing the data, it is possible that we are creating a path for integrating all the basic services at a single point. This would lead to creating one of the finest automation systems ever in the history of humanity. Incorporating big data in the healthcare industry is probably one of the obvious choices considering the size of the industry.

 

The Indian healthcare market is valued at nearly 9 trillion US dollars by the year 2022. With the recent pandemic in mind, this number might expand in near future. This has created a new branch in data analytics called healthcare data analytics. This branch is growing at an astonishing rate. While there is no doubt that this fuels our economy, there is more to it.

Digital Records

 Almost every hospital around the globe is incorporating digital aspects in maintaining medical records. The huge volume that flows through the industry has made it impractical to maintain physical records. The process of storing and accessing is simpler than ever with the latest technologies available in the market.

 

Since everything is digitalized now, the scope for big data is higher than ever. The trend can only grow upwards from here. Easy compartmentalizing of the records is something that the doctors and the staff don’t have to worry about anymore. Medical professionals can focus on providing quality healthcare instead of focusing on tracking down patients’ records. As the records are digitized, people can access them through smartphones and computers.

 

Big data and healthcare data analytics can help in identifying the patterns in the patient’s files and can suggest ways to overcome these patterns from happening again. Pair these with proper software; you would not miss even teeny tiny information from your medical records that can save your life one day. The Big data analytics tools are getting smarter every day and in near future, we can expect people to adapt to the automation of the industry.

 

Identifying pandemics

 The coronavirus outbreak is one of the greatest examples of why we should devise an aggressive strategy on a global scale involving big data and the healthcare industry. Nobody expected a hit this bad when the recent pandemic struck us. The problem is, we were caught off guard. The foundation for the first wave and the evolution of the virus into a more potent form could be anticipated if a strict watch has been placed. Big data can help to identify a pandemic outbreak too.

 

As the medical records of patients are digitized, big data can use these records to identify people who are at risk of infection. Healthcare data analytics can develop a system that can identify patterns across various denominators; hence the impact of a pandemic can be reduced. It can also study the affected person’s symptoms and conditions and map a relation between the existing conditions and the patients’ history.

 

Big data analytics could also help in developing a vaccine for the infection. It can map out a realistic time frame for the virus to mutate by subjecting the atomic model through various real-time conditions like population movement, weather, sanitary conditions, movement of cargos, etc. These data exist previously, but big data analytics tools can help in utilizing all this information by providing context to information.

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Staffing

 This is one of the most practical and useful solutions that big data could bring to the healthcare industry. In many countries, the proportion between the healthcare providers and the population is too vast. The difference in number will be a problem in case of a pandemic outbreak such as coronavirus. Most of the hospitals were flooded with patients and the healthcare professionals were put in a position where they could not attend to everyone.

 

Big data analytics tools can help in estimating the volume of people who require assistance. It can also estimate the group that requires immediate attention and can identify people who are under heavy risk. This can help in utilizing the resources of the healthcare industry to their fullest. There is no need to worry about understaffing or overstaffing. It can also help in allocating resources to various parts of the country by analysing the wants and needs of the hour. The best part is, it can do all this work without taking its eye off the big picture.

All about prevention

 Though the healthcare industry is booming, it is not a good thing if a country provides a lot of patients. This can affect a country’s economy and other factors in various forms. Healthcare data analytics does a really good job in preventing health risks from ever happening. In recent times, the invention of smart devices that can monitor a human’s various health factors like heartbeat rate, blood pressure, pulse rate, etc. has increased. This data can be used to monitor a person’s daily activities and draw a realistic model of the person to identify the vulnerabilities he may face in future.

 

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Many software giants have started visualizing the ‘prevention model’ for a better future. Timely updates that can help you to monitor your health are not a tough task when integrated with healthcare data analytics and big data analytics tools. Investing in these technologies is also adopting a pocket-friendly approach. This can ensure that access to this technology would be easier for the people.

Wrapping up

Big data companies are pouring their resources to make the tech more precise and error-free. Their goals are aligned towards automation. One of the key ingredients in creating a completely automatic healthcare system is big data and healthcare data analytics. An automation system can work better if there is a chance for the machine to understand the context under which it operates.

The healthcare industry is growing at a fast pace yet there are many people who are not provided with even basic healthcare facilities. Data analytics can help identify efficient methods to collaborate with various government bodies and provide adequate facilities to the masses. If done properly, it can revolutionize the healthcare industry.

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