PRESCRIPTIVE IN HEALTHCARE FINDS USE AMIDST PANDEMIC Prescriptive analytics can provide organizations with actionable plans based on their gathered and assist during a pandemic as well as in a post-pandemic world.

July 17 2020 • Search Business Analysis • Joseph Carew

Data analytics can help react to a fluid world. Prescriptive having potential routes laid down organizations assess their needs analytics has become a viable can be beneficial. Prescriptive and predict trends. With the option. analytics can assist in planning healthcare industry under the treatments, assessing high-risk strain of the pandemic, analytics Prescriptive analytics in cases and dealing with an influx have become more crucial to healthcare of patients, all through the use of regular operation. Prescriptive Going one step further than data. analytics in healthcare have , prescriptive become part of the answer for analytics is built to provide users “Prescriptive analytics takes some organizations. with actionable steps for the future. a look back at usage, a look forward data trends This part of the larger analytics “If analytics is about understanding as well as additional data umbrella uses data sets to the present situation, and sources and analysis of multiple prescribe the next best route to predictive analytics is about outcomes and scenarios to make take, going a step further than understanding what would happen recommendations by utilizing predictive analytics. When it comes given current conditions and the capabilities technologies such to the prescriptive action, it can decisions I make, then prescriptive as artificial intelligence,” said be pre-programmed based on a analytics is about which decisions Kevin Beasley, CIO at Vormittag set of rules, or the algorithm can I should make,” said Juan José Associates Inc., an ERP provider. suggest something based on the Lopez Murphy, technical director data inputs and what it learns from and data science practice lead at In this way, healthcare providers them. Globant. “So that what will happen can use prescriptive analytics for is aligned with my objectives and planning in the current pandemic During a pandemic, and in interests.” and in the post-pandemic world. a post-pandemic world, the healthcare industry relies on data For an industry as sensitive and “They use prescriptive analytics and analytics to understand and ever-changing as healthcare, in many ways, such as short-term

800.824.7776 | [email protected] | www.vai.net and long-term healthcare plan resources, beds, staffing much to reinforce the need for analysis, as well as disease and equipment, etc.; and healthcare organizations to attempt medical remedies for patients and to be one step ahead of anything. • Enhancing self-diagnostic tools providers,” Beasley said. “It is also by suggesting what a patient an extremely useful tool to develop “The pandemic stressed the should do based on the new cures and treatments.” importance of prescriptive diagnosis it has derived. analytics and the efficiencies Pandemic and prescriptive and opportunities that they analytics By prescribing optimal routes, open up will be seen more than When it comes to pandemics and hospitals expecting an uptick ever as a required competitive prescriptive analytics in healthcare, in patients can use prescriptive advantage,” Murphy said. “There Laura Craft, vice president and analytics to better prepare will be challenges and changes, analyst at Gartner, sees the themselves. This is not the answer though, as the pandemic will usefulness of both predictive and for every organization, however. have shown that many behaviors prescriptive analytics. To her, Situations can change rapidly, that were considered ‘fixed’ were there are numerous examples especially during a pandemic, and actually just part of the model where these can be helpful for caution is warranted. assumptions.” organizations and patients: “Prescriptive analytics helps Once models have been adjusted • Predicting which patients organizations react faster, and to the different behaviors brought have the highest risks and in many cases, they can lead about because of the pandemic, prescribing what action that to incorporating new learnings prescriptive analytics can be used specific patient needs to take in a more streamlined manner,” to properly plan. to minimize their risk; Murphy said. “But it also warrants caution, since the changes that For use cases outside of patient • Predicting which patients happen during a pandemic might care, healthcare organizations are in early stages of clinical well undermine the predictive can use prescriptive analytics to deterioration; capacity of the models upon which assist with their return to work and • Prescribing and prescriptive analytics is built, augment their human resource recommending which rendering its recommendations planning, according to Beasley. treatment protocol might be unwarranted.” This could include restructuring best for a specific patient; their workforce as employees look Prescriptive analytics to return to the environment and • Predicting resources and post-pandemic prescribing changes to building capacity strain, bundled with Post-pandemic, prescriptive planning to prioritize health and a prescriptive model that analytics in healthcare still finds safety. recommends the diversion its use helping organizations plan and other activities needed their future. The pandemic did to rebalance and recalibrate

800.824.7776 | [email protected] | www.vai.net