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What are the types of analytics used in healthcare?

By Cristina Calabrese, Content Producer at Arcadia
Posted:
Healthcare Analytics Population Health Management Patient Outcomes

Five types of healthcare analytics that enhance patient care and operational efficiency

In the rapidly evolving field of healthcare, organizations are harnessing the power of analytics to drive better outcomes. By analyzing vast amounts of data, healthcare analytics empower organizations to make informed decisions, identify trends, and optimize their resources effectively. Let’s dive into the five key types of analytics used in healthcare, shedding light on their significance in transforming the industry.

Five types of healthcare analytics

In healthcare, various types of analytics are used to extract valuable insights from large volumes of data. These analytics methodologies enable healthcare organizations to improve patient care are optimize operations. The five key types of analytics used in healthcare are:

  1. Descriptive analytics
  2. Diagnostic analytics
  3. Predictive analytics
  4. Prescriptive analytics
  5. Real-time analytics

Let’s cover each of these analytics used in healthcare in more detail.

1.  Descriptive analytics: Unveiling the past

Descriptive analytics focuses on understanding historical data to gain insights into past events and trends. In healthcare, it plays a crucial role in analyzing patient demographics, population health, healthcare resource utilization, and disease prevalence. By examining these factors, healthcare organizations can identify patterns, allocate resources effectively, and develop strategies to address emerging challenges. Descriptive analytics enables healthcare leaders to have a comprehensive understanding of their patient population and make data-driven decisions for improved outcomes.

2.  Diagnostic analytics: Uncovering hidden Insights

Diagnostic analytics involves uncovering hidden patterns and correlations within healthcare data to identify the root causes of issues or risks. By employing techniques like data mining and statistical analysis, diagnostic analytics enables healthcare professionals to understand the underlying factors influencing patient outcomes. This type of analytics is particularly useful in clinical decision support systems, assisting physicians in diagnosing diseases accurately, determining optimal treatments, and reducing medical errors. Diagnostic analytics empowers healthcare providers to make informed decisions and uncover insights that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.

3.  Predictive analytics: Anticipating the future

Predictive analytics leverages historical data and statistical modeling techniques to forecast future outcomes in healthcare. By analyzing patterns and trends, predictive analytics can predict patient readmissions, disease progression, and healthcare resource needs. This information allows healthcare organizations to proactively intervene, allocate resources efficiently, and personalize care plans. Predictive analytics enables healthcare providers to anticipate potential risks, optimize operations, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

4.  Prescriptive analytics: Guiding decision-making

Prescriptive analytics takes healthcare analytics a step further by recommending the best course of action based on insights gained from descriptive, diagnostic, and predictive analytics. Using advanced algorithms and optimization techniques, prescriptive analytics aids healthcare organizations in making data-driven decisions. It assists in optimizing healthcare processes, reducing costs, and improving patient outcomes. Prescriptive analytics helps healthcare leaders navigate complex scenarios, identify the most effective treatments, and streamline operations for enhanced efficiency.

5.  Real-time analytics: Immediate insights for timely action

Real-time analytics is all about analyzing data as it is generated, providing immediate insights for timely action. In healthcare, where quick decision-making is critical, real-time analytics has significant value. It allows healthcare professionals to monitor patient vitals, detect anomalies, and trigger alerts in real-time. Real-time analytics empowers clinicians to make informed decisions at the point of care, leading to improved patient outcomes, reduced adverse events, and enhanced efficiency in healthcare delivery.

Harnessing the power of healthcare analytics

Healthcare analytics enables organizations to extract valuable insights from vast amounts of data. By harnessing the power of these five types of healthcare analytics, organizations can elevate patient care, optimize operational efficiency, and drive better outcomes in the dynamic landscape of healthcare.

See how Arcadia’s healthcare analytics data platform can help tackle your organization’s greatest challenges.