Blog

Take the long view when investing in health care data

There may not be a clear pay-off at first, but data is the key to trimming health care costs

By Healthcare Facilities Today


According to Loraine Lawson, when we talk a lot about achieving ROI and the business case for data investments, we need to be playing the long game.

In her blog on ITBusinessEdge.com, Lawson quotes Colin Hill, the CEO and co-founder of GNS, a health care big data analytics company. According to Hill,  answering questions about a person’s health currently relies on a lot of experimentation and luck — and it's not cheap.

Hill says one-third of current healthcare spending is pure waste. It will take time, and there may be  a clear pay-off at first, but data is the key to changing that.

“Learning from data can help fill in these knowledge blind spots in a much faster, more direct way,” Lawson quotes Hill as saying. “As access to data and our computational tools continue to improve, we are using data to address the problems above, giving health plans and providers tools to deliver personalized, evidence-based care to healthcare consumers and patients.”

According to Lawson, it’s really the age-old IT argument about pursuing a strategic goal versus low-hanging fruit. The reality is, you sometimes have to aim for the low-hanging fruit just to get budget approval. But the real payoffs - the life-altering, business-transforming payoffs - those are almost always in the long game.

Read the blog.

 

 

 

 



September 25, 2013


Topic Area: Information Technology


Recent Posts

Building Envelope Design: Beyond Energy Efficiency

An integrated approach to envelope design can create more comfortable and energy-efficient hospitals.


Outpatient Surge Reshapes Long-Term Strategy for Medical Outpatient Buildings

Demographic tailwinds, policy uncertainty and shifting care models are pushing health systems to rethink how and where they invest in outpatient facilities.


Mercy Medical Center to Be Integrated into Baystate Health

Until the transition is complete and receives all regulatory approvals, Mercy Medical Center and Baystate Health will continue to operate independently.


Managing IAQ in Healthcare Facilities During Wildfires

Wildfires are becoming more prevalent across the country. Facilities must be prepared to handle their effects on air quality. 


Building Hospital Resilience in an Era of Extreme Weather

Expert Jennifer Mahan discusses the vulnerabilities healthcare facilities face during disasters and the infrastructure strategies that keep operations running.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.