Unlocking the people-centered promise of healthcare data
In the ancient world, a broken leg was often a death sentence. Without the ability to run from predators, hunt for food or find water, survival during the six weeks it takes for a broken bone to heal was nearly impossible. As a result, when researchers find a healed human leg bone from prehistoric times, it suggests not only evidence of survival, but of compassion. This healed bone suggests the existence of a community that cared for its wounded and ensured they could recover.
In essence, there was healthcare.
We’ve evolved beyond survival, but the principle of compassionate, community-driven care remains. And we’ve been able to raise the bar for quality care thanks to tremendous scientific and technological progress. More specifically, what's powered our progress in the past and what will continue to fuel it is how we use data.
Healthcare organizations that leverage data, not just for understanding, but for driving positive change in our communities, are the ones that will lead the way.
Here are some of the ways I see human-centered data and technology leading us to a greater future.
Data drives human-centered solutions
Recent findings show how hospitals are using data to achieve better patient outcomes than ever before, even as they recover from the pandemic. Hospitals are handling more complex cases yet have reduced mortality by 22% and dramatically lowered infection rates. Preventive screenings for cancers have surged by 60 to 80%. This direct use of data empowers healthcare providers to act swiftly, improving patient safety, reducing complications and delivering timelier life-saving interventions.
But it’s not just about providing care. It’s about ensuring that care is equitable and accessible to everyone. At institutions like NYU Langone, leaders empower employees to actively shape the quality of care they provide. Using dashboards that track over 800 health metrics, including health equity indicators, clinicians and staff can see the impact of their actions in real time. If disparities in care are detected, they can quickly adjust their approach to address those gaps, ensuring every patient receives the highest quality care. Moving from simply collecting data to taking immediate, informed action makes a tangible difference in patient outcomes and health equity.
Data also helps providers see how social and environmental factors influence patient outcomes. Supported by Medicare claims data and the Vizient Vulnerability Index, a recent report highlights how type 2 diabetes patients facing greater social challenges often miss routine care and suffer more complications. Insights like these help providers understand not just what’s happening, but why it’s happening, so they can take immediate steps to deliver more equitable care that meets individual needs.
Empowering providers to prioritize patients through data insights
Behind every piece of data are the healthcare teams working tirelessly to improve patient outcomes. But traditional analytics tools are not enough to support the many challenges care teams face today. With generative AI technology, health system leaders can now quickly identify top opportunities for improvement.
One provider always used annual quality rankings to compare their performance with leading hospitals across the country. But waiting for a yearly report often delayed their ability to make timely changes. Using AI, the team can access up-to-the-minute performance data and quickly adjust their approach to patient care. For example, when the data highlighted a need for better patient safety measures, the team quickly made changes to their safety protocols.
Other collaborative efforts highlight how data can quantify the human elements of care, like how clear communication during discharge can directly lead to better health outcomes. For example, patients who felt their preferences were considered during discharge were less likely to return to the emergency department within 30 days.
People are at the heart of progress
We are living in a time of rapid innovation across many sectors, including healthcare. In the coming decade, we can expect streamlined administrative tasks, automated solutions for our burned-out workforce and a transformation in care delivery. As the industry changes, though, the focus remains the same: to care for those in need while remembering that behind every technological advancement is a person.
A broken leg may no longer be a death sentence, but quality healthcare still requires a community. Data is a critical tool to drive progress, but it’s how we use it to deliver higher quality and more equitable care that matters most. Behind every number, every data point, is a person who benefits when healthcare systems use this information to make smarter, more compassionate decisions.