By Phoebe Song, Data4Good Volunteer
As a long time Data4Good volunteer, I was privileged to hear from some of the best in the healthcare industry at this year’s Data in Healthcare Conference, hosted by Corinium Intelligence. The conference featured a series of keynote speeches and interactive panel discussions. Some of the topics that were covered included data analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, predictive modelling, data governance, and data privacy and security.
One talk I found particularly insightful was the keynote presentation by Michael Franco, Chief Medical Information Officer at Monash Health, who shared his experience with creating a model to predict pneumonia infections with just one slight issue, his intended audience was not consulted throughout the development process. The outcome was a product that the developer believed would be valued by the customer, but in actuality, the customer failed to recognise its worth. He then went on to speak about how Monash Health use data and informatics to make informed decisions and in turn make the hospitals safer for everyone. Whenever there is a significant clinical event, they make sure to back all recommendations up with data, this has led to more nuanced recommendations that are more likely to be implemented.
It was also great to hear Kevin Ross, CEO at Precision Driven Health, talk about the New Zealand Government’s response to COVID. As New Zealand didn’t have many cases, the COVID squad had to use data from around the world to predict what measures would be the least invasive while still keeping New Zealand safe. He spoke about the way the COVID squad was comprised, making sure to have a range of experts on the panel, not just with a data or health background, but legal and Māori representatives as well. The squad ensured Māori interests were at the forefront of their minds when developing solutions, as they discovered if you don’t actively include minorities they tend to get excluded. I thought it was great that he helped set up the New Zealand Algorithm Hub – a one stop website for verified health algorithms. This allows anyone to use verified algorithms and models from personal use to healthcare, making data insights more accessible for all New Zealand.
The conference was a very inspiring and unifying experience, it showed that everyone in data is facing similar challenges, and that by coming together to discuss these issues, we can work together to learn about new innovative solutions to these problems. It also inspired us to think about how we can best use data to improve the healthcare system and patient outcomes. It was a great opportunity to learn from industry pioneers and thought leaders, as well as network with peers and colleagues from around Australia.
About the Author
Phoebe Song | Linkedin
Senior Consultant, Altis Consulting | Volunteer, Data4Good
Phoebe is a long time Data4Good Volunteer working on data science projects for us and is passionate about data equity.
Phoebe has accredited knowledge in using Azure Cloud BI tools, visualization tools (Tableau and PowerBI), and multiple programming languages, within the industries of Banking, Education, Healthcare, Insurance, and Utilities.
