Statistics in Healthcare: How it is Obtained and its Use in Day-to-Day Operations

Health Statistics
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Health Statistics
Introduction
Some decades ago, the world was heavily dependent on industries. Competition at the global stage was mainly based on who could produce the most goods at an efficient rate. Today, with incredible developments in information technology, the world’s attention has shifted to information. Competition is not solely based on industrial production but on who has access to information and the advantages that accrue. Further, competition also lies in who can make the best of the available information. Information is becoming quite crucial in healthcare as person-centered care takes center stage (Thomas, 2014). It is becoming increasingly critical for healthcare professionals to be equipped with data regarding diseases, their patients’ responses to medication, and their patients’ progress. Further, data and statistics are helping ensure that care can be focused on preventive measures instead of curative measures. Statistics continue to be integral in the healthcare sector. Below is an elucidation of its application in healthcare, how it is obtained, its use in day-to-day operations, and how it shapes decision-making.
Application of Statistics in Healthcare
One of the ways statistics is applied in healthcare is to help public health. Numerous organizations and governments collect information on the state of public health. Such information is crucial as it helps shape healthcare funding and leads to the introduction of measures to curb the spread of a particular disease. Bartkowiak and Finnegan (2004) indicated that health statistics help inform on certain disease trends while also helping to direct or focus research efforts.
Aside from the above, statistics also help shed light on the quality of healthcare delivered. According to Wolfe et al. (2021), the use of data in healthcare helps to inform the success or failure of interventions. Often, the healthcare sector will introduce interventions meant to help enhance the public’s healthcare. However, without data and meaningful analysis of the data using statistical methods, it would be impossible to gain any meaningful information from such.
Statistics also inform on the vulnerability and susceptibility of certain groups or populations to certain conditions. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, after taking to account the groups of people that were highly affected by COVID, it was established that the elderly, people with underlying conditions, and those with respiratory problems stood a slim chance of survival. For such a conclusion to be made, data on the patients and the deceased were collected and analyzed. The results showcased that these groups were at a greater risk of becoming victims of COVID-19. Through such revelations, it was easier for the healthcare sector to offer guidance for vulnerable groups.
Safety and enhancement of the public’s healthcare are areas where statistics are applied. In many healthcare organizations, data tracking helps to enhance the quality of care provided (Alotaibi & Federico, 2017). However, this data also helps to enhance the safety measures employed by a healthcare organization. For example, if a healthcare organizat...