Mastering the Future of Healthcare

Advanced tech tools and data analytics put professionals at the forefront of an AI-led digital revolution in medicine and healthcare delivery.

Imagine a future where artificial intelligence teams with data analytics to launch a digital revolution in our healthcare system, providing higher-quality medical care and lower costs, creating breakthroughs in research and diagnostics, with virtual doctor appointments and at-home medical monitoring in even the most isolated areas.

Thanks to the fast-evolving field of healthcare analytics, the future, in many ways, has already begun.

With new and more powerful ways to mine massive amounts of data, advanced AI-driven analytics will generate a complete transformation of America’s byzantine healthcare industry, leading to a booming market for highly skilled professionals, said Mountasser Kadrie, instructor for UCI Division of Continuing Education’s recently revamped Healthcare and Public Health Analytics certificate program.

“The rise of AI is changing the way healthcare is administered and delivered on every level,” he said. “Analytics and AI are transforming how data is mined, visualized and analyzed, not only improving patient care and streamlining healthcare management, but also breaking down detailed public health data by state, community, and even by neighborhoods to pinpoint at-risk communities.”

Just four years ago, AI existed, but it was quite limited in data analytics. Today, its rapid evolution and integration are nothing short of breathtaking, with lightyears yet to go. Consider that tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon and Google have jumped into the arena, creating even greater demand for analytics-savvy talent.

It is becoming clear that going forward, healthcare professionals must have a background in data analytics, Kadrie said. The entire industry is well on its way to becoming 100% digital, with openings for health information managers growing by 11% from 2019 to 2029, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

There’s a great need for current professionals to learn these new skillsets, and DCE’s program can prepare them to master this burgeoning field.

Preparing for healthcare’s future

Taught by experienced professionals, the Healthcare and Public Health Analytics certificate program offers training in the latest, most advanced health informatics and analytics driven by AI, allowing students to develop data-mining applications that visualize, analyze, and implement informatics solutions using AI and machine learning.

The program also drills into topics such as data governance, telehealth, and wearable devices, providing a comprehensive background for those seeking to burnish their credentials and become proficient in this increasingly essential discipline.

Designed for a broad range of students, the program is the perfect entry point for healthcare professionals, public health officials and administrators, clinicians, and medical assistants, as well as consultants and employees in IT, pharma, and insurance. The opportunities are practically endless.

An elevated patient experience

Analytics and AI are improving patient care in myriad ways, such as enabling personalized treatment plans, automating administrative tasks, and facilitating remote monitoring, Kadrie said. All of which can lead to lower healthcare costs through early disease detection and optimized resource allocation, reducing administrative burdens.

Wearable medical devices are becoming more sophisticated, allowing patients to leave the hospital earlier than ever while remaining closely monitored. Physicians can modify medication and prescribe further treatment while the patient recuperates at home, a cost-saving benefit for patients and hospitals alike.

Thanks to AI, healthcare is becoming more home-based in general, with the rise of telehealth care that allows for virtual doctor visits and higher-quality care for those living in remote rural areas. For example, someone in Montana without access to a pathologist can have test results analyzed by a specialist looking through a microscope hundreds of miles away, Kadrie said.

Greater focus on public health

As terrible as the pandemic was, COVID lockdown became a catalyst for positive advancements in public health, which included increased funding for telehealth, an area that was not a high priority beforehand, Kadrie said.

“Before the pandemic, telehealth wasn’t taken very seriously, but the lockdown underscored a greater need for remote healthcare and at-home treatment,” Kadrie said. “It led to a surge in funding for improving ways to deliver healthcare digitally and manage public health more effectively.”

Emerging visual analytics are also very promising, allowing primary care physicians to examine and diagnose certain conditions and symptoms from a digital image. Send a smartphone photo of, say, a suspicious skin growth or mole, for example, and analytics can help determine if it needs to be biopsied.

“Artificial intelligence can be highly accurate in diagnosing disease, and its effectiveness is improving,” Kadrie said.

A foundation for the future

The certificate program’s introductory course, Healthcare Analytics, prepares students with a solid background for the rest of the program, implementing core technologies and data analytics, both computational and analytical, and the use of health information technology, Kadrie said.

“The course creates a strong foundation by providing an introduction to the field of health informatics and related terminologies,” he added. “Students learn data standards, security and confidentiality, along with health information exchanges and population health management. The course provides an overview of health data analytics, emerging innovations in AI and Machine Learning, and virtual care and data-collecting wearable devices.”

The Healthcare and Public Health Analytics program seems especially attractive to physicians and nurses who need to add a new set of tools and skills to navigate this rapidly evolving field, Kadrie said. It’s also beneficial for executives and anyone who really wants to excel in today’s healthcare industry.

“Healthcare professionals need to embrace these changes and be comfortable using data. With the right tools and knowledge, they can power the digital transformation of healthcare. Companies and organizations have a lot of openings in the digital analytics space. The technology is there, but what’s missing is the manpower, the brainpower — and this UCI program is filling those gaps.”

Learn more about the Healthcare and Public Health program.