Application of data science in healthcare

Applications of data science are present in every aspect of daily life. Data science applications are changing numerous industries, including healthcare, information technology, media, and entertainment. Today’s healthcare businesses are successfully harnessing the potential of data science. Here, we’ll talk about the value of data science in healthcare, its advantages, applications, and the role of data scientists in the field.

What is the healthcare sector?

As a collection and integration of economic sectors, healthcare offers products and services to treat patients with curative, preventative, rehabilitative, and palliative care. It entails creating and commercializing products and services that support preserving and regaining health. To address the health needs of people and populations, the modern healthcare industry relies on interdisciplinary teams of qualified professionals and paraprofessionals.

Scope of data science in healthcare

Data scientists are in high demand in healthcare because most data in this sector needs to be more structured and easier to access and evaluate. Data science has simplified the handling of a vast amount of information in the healthcare industry, including but not limited to electronic medical records, clinical trial data, genetic information, billing data, wearable data, care management databases, scholarly journals, etc.

4 Pillars of Data Science

Domain Knowledge	Business Knowledge, Expert Systems, User Testing
Math & Statistics Skills	Linear Algebra, Calculus, Descriptive Statistics
Computer Science	Big Data Technologies, Programming, Database
Communication & Visualization	Storytelling Skills, Visual Art, Engagement with Seniors

Read more: Four pillars of data science

The application of data science in healthcare has benefited the creation and assessment of policies to improve accessibility, equality, and the general caliber of care given. Data science has immense potential in many fields, including the following:

• Prevention plans
• Diagnosis of diseases
• Delivering more precise prescriptions and customized care
• Post-care monitoring
• Hospital operations

Application of data science in healthcare with examples

Data science has various uses in the healthcare industry. Here, we’ll talk about a few of them.

1. Medical image analysis

Medical imaging techniques, such as CT scans, X-rays, MRIs, and sonography, can benefit from data science analysis. Doctors must carefully examine these photos to get insights and provide superior care. The use of data science in healthcare allows for a more thorough analysis of the image and the retrieval of relevant and usable data.

2. Pharmaceutical development

Scientists must analyze chemical and biological processes to discover and create effective new medicines. When it comes to studying the effects of pharmaceutical chemicals on humans, data science may be a great help by giving in-depth analyses and forecasts. Potential benefits of these analysis types include the following:

• Reduced processing time
• Reduced room for human mistakes
• Expedited processing of large data sets.

Pharmaceutical development software allows researchers to analyze and compare a new treatment’s predicted efficacy to the efficacy of previously approved drugs for the same ailment. The new drug may prove superior in one therapeutic population, while the old one will be more beneficial in another.

3. Drug discovery

Discovering and developing new medicines takes time and money. Research indicates that the time and money required to bring a new drug to market can be as long as 12 years and as high as $2.6 billion. In this case, the combination of data science and healthcare is helping to streamline the drug discovery process and provide actionable insights that may be used to increase the success rate.

The application of data science in the healthcare industry has allowed pharmaceutical companies and researchers to quickly and efficiently examine massive datasets. Drugs and vaccines can now be developed in less than a year.

You may like to read who should pursue an MBA in healthcare management.

Roles & responsibilities of a data science professional in healthcare

The efficiency of healthcare workers is increased due to the constant improvements and innovations in the industry. The important role of data science in healthcare is crucial to integrating data modeling methods throughout the industry. Data scientists can make use of the available data to draw conclusions and develop models for the future. 

A data scientist’s primary functions in the healthcare sector include the following:

• To gather patient information or data
• To assess the needs or requirements of the hospital
• To organize and classify data so that medical practitioners can use it
• To execute data analyses using a variety of tools
• Implement various methods to draw insights from unstructured or raw data
• Using the assistance of the development teams to create predictive models

Data scientists assist healthcare providers by giving them the knowledge they need to treat patients effectively.

Top Indian companies in healthcare

1. Manipal Hospitals

Manipal Hospitals is a chain of multi-specialty hospitals located in India. It is known for providing high-quality medical care and advanced treatments across a wide range of specialties. The hospitals have a team of experienced doctors and healthcare professionals who use the latest technology and equipment to provide a wide range of services, including diagnostics, outpatient care, inpatient care, and surgeries. The hospital also offers a variety of programs and services that are designed to help patients and their families manage their health and wellness. Some of the key specialties offered by Manipal Hospitals include cardiology, neurology, oncology, orthopedics, and urology. They also have a strong focus on providing patient-centered care and making healthcare accessible to all. 

2. Apollo Hospitals Enterprises Ltd.

It is a chain of Indian hospitals established in 1983, with its headquarters in Chennai. Hospitals, pharmacies, and diagnostic facilities are its products. Apollo Hospital is the leading corporate hospital in India and a pioneer of the private healthcare revolution.

3. Aster DM Healthcare Ltd.

Aster DM Healthcare, one of the top healthcare organizations in India, was established in 1987. Its main office is in Dubai. The corporation runs hospitals, clinics, diagnostic facilities, medical centers, and pharmacies in the Middle East, India, and the Philippines.

4. Dr. Lal PathLabs Ltd

The headquarters of Dr. Lal Pathlabs Ltd. is in Delhi, India, and the company was established in 1949. The business offers diagnostic and related medical testing and services on a global scale. Currently, the firm operates several laboratories and provides a variety of additional health examinations and tests.

Conclusion

Applications of data science in the healthcare system are numerous. Patients and doctors are increasingly making use of this technology’s potential. Data scientists play a crucial role in the healthcare system, and you ought to be qualified for this position. Additionally, you can advance your career in this industry by completing online data science courses. 

At Online Manipal, you can find the best online data science courses from the prestigious Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE). Graduates of this data science program will be well-equipped to take the next step in their careers. Thanks to this curriculum, you’ll gain the technical know-how to stand out in data science. The program aims to equip you with the analytical and leadership skills necessary to succeed in various fields by combining machine learning, big data analytics, and statistics. 

Head to Online Manipal to learn to apply machine learning and predictive modeling, work effectively in teams, create strategic and tactical suggestions, and manage processes, projects, and people using real-world data.

Key takeaways:

• Medical imaging, drug development, genomics, predictive diagnosis, and other areas of healthcare rely heavily on data science.
• Medical facilities can use data science and analytics to improve patient care by reducing wait times for diagnosis and delivering more effective, safer treatments.
• Undoubtedly, future data science applications will be more beneficial than current ones, as they are already doing wonders for society.