We all know the most important problem in healthcare. At least, I think we do. The problem is we spend an exorbitant amount of money in exchange for mediocre health outcomes.
When I think about that problem, I keep coming back to the same question: I’m just one person; what can I do about it?
In my view, the most important levers for reducing cost or improving value are:
- Creating business models that reward providers when patients stay healthy, instead of rewarding them only when patients get sick and go to the hospital.
- Using automation to reduce manual labor and make sure everyone has access to the information they need to serve patients
The problem with #2 is it requires tech-savvy people. In general, we are getting better at recruiting those people. We also have a long way to go before we have enough talent at the table.
To that end, when I get a chance to speak to enthusiastic younger people about what’s going on in healthcare, I try to say yes. Last week, I got just such a chance.
I was a guest at the Data Analytics Association at Ferris State University. They asked me to share my journey from wide-eyed college graduate to healthcare data scientist. This isn’t the first time I’ve told the story publicly, but I’m happy to repeat it if it will help!
If you’re interested in careers in healthcare data, or recruiting more technical talent to your healthcare organization, then consider joining the email list…
