HLTH-845 Big Data Analytics for Health and Healthcare
The American healthcare system is a paradox. It costs far more than any other country's system but often delivers less in terms of good health. Part of the problem is that its information infrastructure and use of data are not up to par with other industries or with the challenges it faces. The new science of analytics provides critical intelligence to produce innovative solutions through its use of data science, information technology, and deep knowledge of the sector. This course focuses on the three most promising areas of health analytics: business intelligence, community health, and behavior change. It draws upon the best analytics from within the health and healthcare sectors as well as from other sectors including banking, sports, politics, and retail. The classes, both in the classroom and online, include a mix of lectures, discussions, application labs, guest speakers, a field trip to a leading health technology firm, and a class project to work with a health organization to design an analytics solution. By the end of the course, students will have built competencies in obtaining information from multiple data sources, analyzing metrics, applying analytic tools, using systems thinking to frame and solve problems, evaluating the pros and cons of various analytics approaches, and creating solutions through the use of case narratives, use cases, and client presentations.