Healthcare Data and Analytics

1.5 Credits · Level: Graduate

In an era of rapidly advancing technology and a growing emphasis on data-driven decision making, the healthcare industry stands at the crossroads of transformation. With the explosive growth of electronic health records, wearables, and health-related IOT (Internet of Things) devices, the ability to harness, interpret, and derive value from healthcare data has become critical skill for professionals in the field. Analytical decision making with this integrated data has the power to shape diagnoses, influence treatment plans, save insurance premiums and costs to patients, improve access, optimize resource allocation, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. This course offers a comprehensive journey of the intersection of healthcare with data science, equipping students with the knowledge, skills and tools to navigate the landscape of healthcare data, technology and analytics for a healthier future for individuals, communities, and healthcare organizations worldwide. Led by seasoned experts and industry practitioners, this course will guide the students through the fundamental concepts, methodologies, and tools used in healthcare systems and the impact of data and analytics on patient care, costs, administration, research, and operational efficiency. From exploring the types and sources of medical and healthcare data, to using predictive models and natural language processing and text mining for better health outcomes, this course will equip students with the knowledge to critically examine healthcare's ethical, technical and practical dimensions. Additionally, since health outcomes are driven by an array of factors including genetics, health behaviors, and social and environmental factors, the course will address data on social determinants of health outcomes (non-medical factors that influence health outcomes) to help understand challenges and opportunities with formulating innovative personalized solutions for various segments of the population. We will also focus on medical data privacy and the ethical and regulatory issues and concerns around collecting and using health data. This course will use a blend of theoretical insights and hands-on applications using cases and examples from the industry and government to demonstrate the potential of AI to enhance medical practices and drive meaningful improvements in healthcare outcomes. Students will use excel and solver additions as a tool for data analysis.