Health care analytics uses data analysis to improve health care administration and patient care.
As much as data has revolutionised the financial, marketing, and tech industries, it has also profoundly altered the health care field. Health care analytics is used today for everything from providing business insights to refining diagnostic tools to improving patient care.听
Here, you will learn more about health analytics, its benefits for health care administrators and patients, and how you can get started in this exciting new career opportunity. At the end of the article, you will find suggested online courses specifically designed to teach data analytics and health care analytics.
Health care analytics is a subset of data analytics that uses both historical and current data to produce actionable insights, improve decision-making, and optimise outcomes within the health care industry. Health care analytics is not only used to benefit health care organisations but also to improve the patient experience and health outcomes.
The health care industry is awash with valuable data in the form of detailed records. Industry regulations stipulate that health care providers must retain many records for a set period.
This means that health care has become a site of interest for those working with "big data", or large pools of unstructured data. As a still-developing field, big data analytics in health care offers the potential to reduce operation costs, improve efficiency, and treat patients.
Predictive analytics uses historical data to identify past trends and project-associated future outcomes. In the health care industry, predictive analytics has many impactful uses, such as identifying a patient鈥檚 risk for developing a health condition, streamlining treatment courses, and reducing a hospital鈥檚 30-day readmissions (which can result in costly fines).
A 2021 study conducted by a University of Michigan research team illustrates the positive impact of predictive analytics on patient treatment. During the study, researchers devised a sensitive blood test that predicted how well patients with HPV-positive throat cancer would respond to specific treatment courses. The researchers found that their method could predict treatment effectiveness many months earlier than traditional scans [].
Prescriptive analytics uses historical data to identify an appropriate course of action. In the health care industry, prescriptive analytics is used to direct business decisions and literally prescribe treatment plans for patients. As a result, some of the most common uses of prescriptive analytics in health care include identifying a patient鈥檚 likelihood of developing diabetes, allocating ventilators for a hospital unit, and enhancing diagnostic imaging tools.
Health care analytics benefits health businesses, hospital administrators, and patients. Although it can be tempting to imagine health care analysts working in a virtual data cloud, the reality is that their work has a tangible impact on how hospitals operate, provide treatment, and conduct medical research.
At a glance, some of the most common benefits of health care analytics include:
Improved patient care, such as offering more effective courses of treatment
Predictions for a patient鈥檚 vulnerability to a particular medical condition聽
Improved scheduling for both patients and staff聽
Optimised resource allocation聽
More efficient decision-making at the business and patient care level
As a combination of health care and data analytics鈥攖wo of the fastest growing industries鈥攈ealth care analysts can command a higher-than-average salary in a field that鈥檚 here to stay.
Those working in health care analytics can expect a higher-than-average salary. According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a health care analyst in India is 鈧4,43,458 as of February 2023 []. Similar positions in industries outside of health care might possess similarly high salaries. Data scientists in India, for instance, make an average salary of 鈧6,70,000 during the same period, according to Glassdoor [].
The job outlook for those working in health care analytics is very positive. According to the India Brand Equity Foundation, the health care market in India is estimated to reach 132 billion USD in value by 2023. The Indian government is pouring resources into the health care sector to boost infrastructure with plans to launch a credit incentive programme valuing 鈧500 billion []. With the expansion of the health care industry in India continuing at a fast pace, there is likely to be growth in related jobs such as health care analytics.
A career in health care analytics begins with acquiring the appropriate credentials, skills, and experience.
Employers typically expect those looking to enter the field of health care analytics to have a credential that signals their qualification for the position. whilst it is possible to land a job without either a certificate or degree, the two most common routes to entry-level positions include:
Obtaining a degree. A bachelor鈥檚 degree or advanced degree in a relevant field signals to employers that you have completed several years of dedicated study to gain the skills needed to perform job responsibilities successfully. Some common fields of study for those entering data analytics include economics, mathematics, statistics, finance, and computer science.
Obtaining a professional certificate. This is another way to demonstrate job-ready skills. A professional certificate indicates that you have taken a particular course of study that has equipped you with the appropriate skills for the position. This can be particularly enticing to job seekers or career switchers who don鈥檛 have the resources to pursue a university degree, mainly if they are eager to join the field. For example, Google鈥檚 equips beginners with foundational data analytics skills in just six months.
Health care analytics requires a mix of technical and human skills to ensure you do your job well. Some of the most common skills include the following:聽
Programming languages, such as Python
Database tools, including SQL and Excel
Data visualisation tools, such as Tableau and Excel
Problem-solving abilities聽
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Storytelling, particularly as it relates to data
Employers like to see prior experience on resumes because it demonstrates that the applicant already has some experience doing that job in the professional world. In effect, it can be helpful for those just entering health care analytics to gain prior experience through an internship, volunteer effort, or a related job. This can also be a great way to build your network and learn from more experienced professionals. Working on projects that use data analytics skills, such as data visualisation or data analytics software, can set you up for success in positions in the health care analytics field.
Health care analytics is an applied form of data analytics. It is as much about health care as it is about data analytics. As a result, an individual working in health care analytics should strive to understand the tools and processes required to undertake data analysis and the unique concerns of the health care industry.听
Whether you opt to volunteer at a hospital, obtain a health care internship, or take online health courses, expanding your understanding of the health system will only better prepare you for your future role in health care analytics.
A career in health care analytics requires a grasp of both data analytics and health care. You might consider taking a flexible online course to better understand either one (or even both). Google鈥檚 , such as data visualisation and R programming, will have them job-ready in less than six months.
EurekAlert. 鈥,聽 https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/596395.鈥 Accessed July 31, 2023.
Glassdoor. 鈥, https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/healthcare-analyst-salary-SRCH_KO0,18.htm?clickSource=careerNav.鈥 Accessed July 31, 2023.
Glassdoor. 鈥, https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/data-analyst-salary-SRCH_KO0,12.htm?clickSource=careerNav.鈥 Accessed July 31, 2023.
IBEF. 鈥,聽 https://www.ibef.org/industry/healthcare-india.鈥 Accessed July 31, 2023.
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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.