Big Data Risks and Rewards in Healthcare

Big Data Risks and Rewards in Healthcare

The integration of big data into healthcare organizations has brought both challenges and opportunities. Big data, defined as vast datasets that yield more valuable insights when analyzed as an integrated whole rather than in smaller fragments (Keenan, 2014), has the potential to transform healthcare practices and outcomes. However, the lack of standardized data can impede an organization’s ability to assess its performance and make necessary improvements (Thew, 2016).

Benefits of Big Data

The effective utilization of big data can yield numerous benefits for healthcare organizations. It has the potential to enhance patient experiences and improve organizational performance (Wang et al., 2018). Big data impacts various aspects of an organization, including technology, operations, management, strategy, and overall structure (Wang et al., 2018). One significant advantage is cost reduction. This can be achieved through data analysis, which enables cost-saving adjustments based on the insights gained.

Advancements in Nursing Informatics

For example, in healthcare supply management, big data can be used to monitor and stock supplies more efficiently. By analyzing usage patterns over an extended period, organizations can determine which supplies are used less frequently and adjust their procurement accordingly. This prevents excessive stockpiles and unnecessary expenses. Big Data Risks and Rewards Essay.

Moreover, electronic health records can be analyzed to identify patterns of care. In scenarios where an organization is grappling with issues such as patient falls, big data analytics can examine various factors to discern care patterns. This information can then guide changes in care protocols to prevent falls and replicate best practices from units with lower fall rates. Reducing falls not only enhances patient safety but also leads to direct cost savings through decreased incidents and associated expenses. Quality of care is thus positively impacted by incorporating big data into healthcare practices.

Risks Associated with Big Data

While the benefits of big data in healthcare are substantial, there are inherent risks, with data security and privacy being the most prominent. The confidentiality of patients’ health information can be compromised, posing a significant risk to healthcare organizations. Breaches in patient privacy can occur due to third-party involvement, and organizations may not have direct control over the privacy measures of big data companies (Wang et al., 2018). Such breaches can lead to severe consequences, including legal issues, loss of trust, and damaged credibility. One alarming example is a phishing attack that resulted in the release of 80,000 medical records (Lv & Qiao, 2020).

Mitigating Risks

Healthcare organizations must employ strategies to mitigate the risks associated with big data. Education is a critical tool in this regard. Staff should be educated about the dangers of phishing attacks and how to recognize and respond to them. Regular reminders through emails can create awareness and help prevent staff from falling victim to phishing scams. Furthermore, staff should receive ongoing education on the protection of patients’ private health information. Regular training serves as a reminder of the circumstances under which patients’ information can be shared, promoting privacy and security.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the incorporation of big data into clinical systems offers multiple benefits for healthcare organizations, patients, and staff. However, it also introduces new risks, with the most significant being breaches in confidentiality and privacy. Healthcare organizations are taking steps to combat these risks through education and awareness. The integration of big data has the potential to bring about substantial positive changes in healthcare while requiring vigilant safeguarding of patient information.

Resources

Keenan, G. M. (2014). Big data in health care: An urgent mandate to change nursing ehrs. Online Journal of Nursing Informatics, 18(1), 18-20. Big Data Risks and Rewards Essay

Lv, Z., & Qiao, L. (2020). Analysis of healthcare big data. Future Generation Computer Systems, 109(1), 103-110. 10.1016/j.future.2020.03.039

McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2017). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Thew, J. (2016, April 19). Big data means big potential, challenges for nurse execs. Health Leaders Media. https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/nursing/big-data-means-big-potential-challenges-nurse-execs

Wang, Y., Kung, L., & Byrd, T. A. (2018). Big data analytics: Understanding its capabilities and potential benefits for healthcare organizations. Social Change, 126(1), 3-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2015.12.019 Big Data Risks and Rewards Essay

Discussion: Big Data Risks and Rewards

When you wake in the morning, you may reach for your cell phone to reply to a few text or email messages that you missed overnight. On your drive to work, you may stop to refuel your car. Upon your arrival, you might swipe a key card at the door to gain entrance to the facility. And before finally reaching your workstation, you may stop by the cafeteria to purchase a coffee. Big Data Risks and Rewards Essay

From the moment you wake, you are in fact a data-generation machine. Each use of your phone, every transaction you make using a debit or credit card, even your entrance to your place of work, creates data. It begs the question: How much data do you generate each day? Many studies have been conducted on this, and the numbers are staggering: Estimates suggest that nearly 1 million bytes of data are generated every second for every person on earth Big Data Risks and Rewards Essay.

As the volume of data increases, information professionals have looked for ways to use big data—large, complex sets of data that require specialized approaches to use effectively. Big data has the potential for significant rewards—and significant risks—to healthcare. In this Discussion, you will consider these risks and rewards Big Data Risks and Rewards Essay.

To Prepare:

• Review the Resources and reflect on the web article Big Data Means Big Potential, Challenges for Nurse Execs Big Data Risks and Rewards Essay.
• Reflect on your own experience with complex health information access and management and consider potential challenges and risks you may have experienced or observed.

By Day 3 of Week 5

Post a description of at least one potential benefit of using big data as part of a clinical system and explain why. Then, describe at least one potential challenge or risk of using big data as part of a clinical system and explain why. Propose at least one strategy you have experienced, observed, or researched that may effectively mitigate the challenges or risks of using big data you described. Be specific and provide examples Big Data Risks and Rewards Essay.

By Day 6 of Week 5

Respond to at least two of your colleagues* on two different days, by offering one or more additional mitigation strategies or further insight into your colleagues’ assessment of big data opportunities and risks.

The rapidly expanding field of big data analytics has started to play a pivotal role in the evolution of healthcare practices and research. It has provided tools to accumulate, manage, analyze, and assimilate large volumes of disparate, structured, and unstructured data produced by current healthcare systems (Belle A, 2015). Data analytics is arguably the most significant revolution in healthcare for the past decade. The 21st century is an era of big data involving all aspects of human life, particularly in the healthcare industry.

Defining Big Data

The concept of big data is not new, but its definition is constantly evolving. Big data refers to a large, complex data set that yields substantially more information when analyzed as a fully integrated data set compared to the outputs achieved with smaller sets of the same data that are not integrated (Keenan, 2014). This integrated approach to data analysis is at the core of the big data revolution.

The Potential of Big Data in Healthcare

A report by McKinsey Global Institute suggests that if the US healthcare sector were to use data creatively, it could create more than $300 billion in value every year, with two-thirds of the value attributed to reducing healthcare expenditure (Belle A, 2015). However, despite the vast potential, many healthcare organizations struggle to fully leverage big data analytics. Evidence shows that only 42% of healthcare organizations surveyed are adopting rigorous analytics approaches to support their decision-making process; only 165 of them have substantial experience using analytics across a broad range of functions (Wang et al., 2018).

Machine Learning and Cloud Infrastructure

In recent years, the emergence of machine learning and analytics tools has enabled healthcare systems to make useful inferences and predictions based on available data. Additionally, the computing and cloud infrastructure has evolved to support large-scale data processing in real time, allowing for data to be delivered to the right operational and clinical decision-makers at the right time (Linkedin.com). This real-time data processing capability is a game-changer in healthcare, enabling healthcare providers to make more informed decisions and improving patient outcomes.

Electronic Health Records (EHRs)

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) have become an integral part of modern healthcare. These digital versions of patient charts are real-time, patient-centered records that provide instant and secure access to authorized users. EHRs go beyond standard clinical data and encompass a broader view of a patient’s care, including medical history, diagnoses, medications, treatment plans, immunization records, allergies, and laboratory results. They also offer access to evidence-based tools that providers can use to make informed decisions about a patient’s care (www.healthit.gov).

The Importance of Privacy and Security

As healthcare organizations embrace technology and big data analytics, it’s crucial to be mindful of safety risks and potential adverse events. Technology-related adverse events can stem from human-machine interfaces or organizational/system design (USA Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization, 2008). Moreover, privacy breaches and security risks pose significant threats to healthcare information. These threats can be categorized into human, natural/environmental, and technology failures (Kierkegaard P, 2012). It’s imperative for healthcare organizations to implement rigorous data rules and control mechanisms to safeguard patient data and ensure privacy (Wang et al., 2018).

Conclusion

In conclusion, big data analytics is set to play an increasingly important role in the healthcare industry. Its potential benefits are immense, ranging from improving patient outcomes to resource management. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated how big data analytics can inform public policy and help manage crises effectively. As time goes on, the use of big data analytics in healthcare will continue to evolve, providing new insights and innovative solutions to enhance patient care and resource allocation (Thew, 2016).

References:

Belle A, Thiagarajan R, Soroushmehr SM, Navidi F, Beard DA, Najarian K. Big data analytics in Healthcare. Biomed Res Int. 2015; 2015: 370194. Doi: 10.1155/2015/370194. Epub 2015 Jul 2. PMID: 26229957; PMCID: PMC4503556 www.foreseemed.com/blog/big-data-analytics-in-healthcare.

Keena, G.M. (2014 ). Big data in healthcare: An urgent mandate to change nursing ehrs. Online Journal of Nursing Informatics, 18(1), 18-20 Big Data Risks and Rewards Essay.

Kiekegaard P. (2012). “ Medical data breaches: Notification delayed is notification denies”. Computer Law & Security Review. 28 (2): 163-183. Doi:10.116/J.clsr. 2012.01.003 (https://doi.org/10.1016%2FJ.clsr.2012.01.003

Laureate Education (Producer ). (2018). Health Informatics and Population Health: analyzing data for Clinical Success[ Video File ]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Linkedin.com/pulse/why-data-analytics-important-healtcare-sanjeev-agrawal

Thew, j. (2016). Big data means big potential, challenges for nurse execs. Retrieved from https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/nursing/big-data-means-big-potential-challenges-nursse-execs.

USA Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations(December 2008). “ Safely implementing health information and converging technologies”. Sentinel Event Alert (42): 1-4. PMID 19108351 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19108351).

Wang, Y., Kung, L., & Byrd, T.A. (2018). Big data analytics: Understanding its capabilities and potential benefits for healthcare organizations. Technology Forecasting and social Change, 126, 3-13 Big Data Risks and Rewards Essay