Data and analytics systems offer a real chance for serious health breakthroughs in ways that continue to surprise practitioners and patients alike.
By Malibu Kothari
Data, data, data. It can sometimes feel like an overwhelming flood of information, but parsed the right way, data can deliver valuable insights and guide users toward practical recommendations. This has been historically true for Canada’s health care system from an academic perspective, but increasingly data systems are also having real-world impacts on businesses and patients who never thought statistical analysis would guide them to better health outcomes.
Understanding how analytical frameworks can build and strengthen health culture is an advantage, especially in Canada. This is because over and above other countries, Canada has one of the longest-running and most comprehensive health data networks in place. In fact, though new “life tracker” or “human optimization” tools may grab headlines as they are added to popular consumer gadgets, the core data underlying these flashy modern displays can be linked all the way back to Canada’s original health census, which was undertaken in 1847.
While other nations have struggled to collect basic health data for tracking, analysis and optimization of their health culture, Canada has long led the way. Yes, how Canadian health care is administered helps, since many roadblocks inherent in blended public-private data systems are gone. Yet even before the national system for health data tracking got going in 1949, individual provinces were world leaders.
As a result, the current “new” digital revolution in health culture in Canada can be better thought of as an enhanced version of the paper record-keeping that has already been going on for years. The key differences are that now the data is readily available at the touch of a button, instead of needing to put in a request to an academic or research library; the level of data available is much greater than in previous decades; and that end users (consumers, patients, and health advisors) are much more aware of the oceans of data surrounding them to support and inform their health choices.
On top of that, the accessibility of health tracking tools — from humble step counters all the way up to advanced smart apps dedicated to sleep quality — is allowing digitized health data to flow in from populations that were previously expensive or difficult to study. This is true of both remote First Nations groups and urban corporate populations, who can now be affordably tracked over time and often, before they are sick and officially “in” the healthcare system for that reason. It is very exciting for researchers and policy makers to know that, for the first time, truly national and inclusive health surveys can be taken, including some in real time.
Integration, collaboration, and filling in the gaps of care
All of this new data flowing in helps strengthen Canada’s health culture by opening the doors for unprecedented levels of integration and collaboration between individuals, workspaces, and health systems. It is disruptive to established practices that may have been used to operating in more of a silo-style approach, but transformative in that it allows far fewer patients and key insights to fall through the cracks.
This is particularly important when dealing with chronic, recurring ailments and life-long health challenges (physical and mental). These are both some of the most difficult health issues to address and the most expensive to treat. Getting fast access to the latest best practices, treatment options, and trend data can thus mean both millions of dollars and thousands of lives at stake.
In the past, though information was collected nationally, certain gaps in standardization existed between provinces. There were also computing power limitations on analysis that prevented insights down to the individual level, which handicapped health providers and policy makers. As a result, things like a regional uptick in diabetes or reports of anxiety attacks might not have been noticed promptly enough to be addressed in the best way. Now, such trend points can be seen early so that local health providers can partner with businesses and outreach organizations to connect with more patients before things reach a crisis state.
Interconnectedness of this nature also helps prevent at-risk individuals from slipping through the cracks or falling victim to preventable illnesses. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) recently noted that improvements in data integration and reporting were allowing the agency to more promptly issue health alerts for infectious disease, allocate dollars more efficiently for real-time health needs, and make policy recommendations for research to address the most currently pressing mental and physical health needs of Canadians.
Embracing the new digital world of health
As the world continues to digitize, the hard lines between “health care” and “regular life” will fade even further. This is particularly true as individuals and non-health practitioners get comfortable with using data as a part of their overall health plan.
After all, it is one thing for an academic researcher to go swimming in data and make recommendations in a policy paper. It is another step forward for the researcher to partner with a hospital on implementation, and then jointly use the data to motivate government groups to reallocate funds or provide new sponsorships. But the real leap of faith – and progress – will come with regular citizens start using their own personal health data, as tracked in real time with a connected device, to guide conversations with their doctor and custom-craft a personalized health solution.
It is not sci-fi or a distant dream. It is increasingly possible now, and not just from a top-down perspective. With the tracking systems available now and the computing power to analyze all the data coming in affordable as never before, there is really no excuse for not using everything the digital world offers to create customized and fast-adapting health solutions. In this way, analytics can indeed prove to be the real secret to lasting health and wellness.