TRANSFORMING PATIENT CARE USING DATA ANALYTICS

The future of healthcare will be defined by smarter medicine, data-driven decision making and risk prediction, and personalized treatment.

- By Shashank Silhare, Engagement Partner, Practus

What is the most valuable asset in the world we live in? I am sure many of you answered “data” without blinking an eye. Traditionally, the healthcare industry has had a linear and reactive approach - a patient would walk in with symptoms, a diagnosis would be made, and the treatment would follow. However, with advancements in data analytics, a shift towards personalized and predictive system has been seen.

The data analytics market is expected to grow to USD 94.86 billion in 2025, from USD 74.83 billion in 2024, at a CAGR of 26.8%. Truly, the impact of data on any sector, industry, or walk of life is undeniable. Patient care is no exception.

Data and analytics can help in creating personalized and tailored treatment plans, making patients more empowered, identifying and addressing future outcomes, and streamlining healthcare operations for efficiency and accuracy.

Personalized and Tailored Medicine

Consider an instance where two patients present with the same diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes. Traditionally, the same treatment and medication would have been prescribed for both. But now, with data analytics, the healthcare providers can gauge that one patient responds better to a specific medication due to a genetic variant, while the other does better with lifestyle modifications. This is personalized treatment or precision medicine - the practice of crafting treatment plans that are uniquely suited to an individual's genetic makeup, lifestyle, and health history.

Empowering Patients with Information