Analytics in Health Care: A Health Plan Case Study

• Activity Number: 167
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Monday, August 5, 2013 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Business and Economic Statistics Section
• Author(s): Sinjini Mitra*+ and Rema Padman
• Companies: California State University, Fullerton and Carnegie Mellon University
• Keywords: statistical analysis ; healthcare ; social media ; mobile apps

Abstract

The advance of computing resources and increased availability of large amounts of data in the recent decade has made it possible to use extensive analytical methods for effective decision-making. This is particularly true in case of the healthcare industry owing to the new health reforms and the increase in consumer demand. Patient engagement in self health and wellness management has been identified as an important goal in improving health outcomes. As a result, the use of mobile and social media for health and wellness promotion is gathering considerable momentum. Several early adopting health plans and provider organizations have begun to design and pilot social and mobile media platforms to empower members to enhance self management of health and wellness goals. Based on a member survey of a large health plan in Pennsylvania, we identify factors (demographic, clinical and technological) that are significantly associated with member interest in adopting such technology platforms for obtaining health information. This analysis allows the health plan to identify important consumer segments based on the professed willingness to use applications and programs for targeted marketing.