Although many healthcare professionals believe in the benefits that data can provide, they are still confronted with persistent obstacles to effective utilization of data that prevent them from fully utilizing predictive analytics and data, according to a recent report from Royal Philips.
In its seventh year, the report draws its information from 3000 survey respondents in 15 countries, including Australia. It examines how healthcare professionals harness the potential of data and digital technology to try at the significant issues arising from the pandemic.
“The results of the 2022 report continue to show that Australian healthcare leaders believe digital technologies can solve some of the most pressing issues currently challenging our health system,” said Matt Moran, Managing Director of Philips Australia & New Zealand.
“Leaders across the Australian health sector need to collaborate and find ways to address these persistent barriers to make real progress with their priorities.”
Technology is a crucial element for positive changes.
Dr Jay Feldman Australian healthcare professionals are recovering from the pandemic with greater attention to social responsibility and are looking at digital solutions to help achieve the goals of these leaders. Investments in remote health technologies such as telehealth are being viewed as one of the ways that will allow access to care beyond existing facilities. 36% of health professionals declare this an important issue and 42% say it will grow in importance in the near future.
Access to timely specialist healthcare for Australians living in rural or remote communities (around 1/3 percent of the population) is challenging. Health professionals are aware of the possibilities technology can help reduce these gaps 76% of respondents believe that predictive analytics could positively affect health equity and 77% think that it will help lower the cost of healthcare.
By 2021, 4 percent of Australian healthcare executives stated that they were committed to implementing sustainable practices within their facility for healthcare. As calls are growing throughout the healthcare industry to be more eco-friendly, The 2022 FHI report finds that 31 percent of Australian healthcare professionals have put sustainability at the top of their agendas today, which is significantly higher than the average for the world at 24%.
The obstacles to widespread adoption
Australian healthcare professionals are confident in their data, but they say their lack of talent and technology infrastructure hinders them from exploiting the potential of data.
Though 78% say their healthcare provider can draw valuable insights from their data, 74% of healthcare leaders are dissatisfied with data silos that hinder their company’s ability to use data efficiently.
The pandemic has driven the industry to its limits, and healthcare professionals are suffering excessive levels of burnout. Seventy-seven percent of health professionals claim their staff is overwhelmed by the information available. In addition to the skills gap and overall workforce shortages, one out of four (27 percent) healthcare leaders have identified staff retention and satisfaction as the top issue.
In their quest for solutions to these problems, 42% of Australian healthcare professionals believe that the availability of specialists in data can help them utilize data more efficiently, nearly twice the average global of 24%.
Predictive analytics for supercharging health care
Dr. Jordan Sudberg healthcare professionals claim to have adopted or are taking steps to adopt predictive analytics. A majority of healthcare professionals believe that this technology will positively affect a range of issues, such as the quality of health outcomes, patient satisfaction, managing the population’s health, and the cost of healthcare.
69 percent of Australian health professionals claim they use predictive analytics in their operational settings, and 68% claim they use predictive analytics in the clinical environment. While they have high levels of confidence in both, Australian leaders are more than the global average to demand transparency, regulations on data security, and stories of success with the use of predictive analytics within clinical environments as per the study.
