Application of statistics in health care PDF

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Running head: APPLICATION OF STATISTICS

Application of Statistics in Health Care Name Course University

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Statistics is deeply entrenched into the field of health care provision. It is applied in different areas from daily practice to clinical research. For example, when applied by a clinical researcher, it can be used to draw inferences that inform their approach to patient care. Daily clinical practices make use of statistics to analyze the historical elements of a client and determine the most likely challenge or tests to be administered and so forth (Aggarwal, 2018). Bartkowiak and Finnegan (2004) assert that the application of statistics in health care enables providers to identify the trails and trends and monitor them. This paper aims to highlight the application of statistics in the field of healthcare and the significant role it plays in enhancing quality, safety, health promotions, and leadership. Significance of the application of statistics in health care Quality One of the primary principles held in the field is that it's impossible to improve quality without proper measurement. As such, meaningful quality improvement in healthcare relies on having a data-driven strategy. Through statistics, hospitals can determine their performance and the outcomes they obtained (Thomas, 2014). These include the areas that are lacking and those that need an additional boost. To maximize the efficiency of a health-care provider, most institutions apply continuous improvement strategies that are data-driven Safety Safety in healthcare is paramount. It is the result of the combination of various resources and strategies which enable a firm to protect their patients and the reputation of their care. The availability and application of reliable statistical data play a critical role in minimizing the risks that are prevalent in healthcare trade-off. For example, when seeking to be innovative with a new form of treatment or drug, statistics are important to ensure safety. Clinical trials require the

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collection of extensive data to assess the benefits of the treatment against treatment risks (Thomas, 2014). Health Promotions Statistics are essential in the pursuit of health promotion helping decision-makers understand their population. These statistics can provide numerical data that describes a population and its characteristics providing insight into the health care services they need. The information can be used to formulate effective health promotion strategies for the said population (ASA, 2017). Health care agencies that are owned by the government seek to engage in health promotion by assessing their populations through statistical information. Their efforts are also promoted by researchers who adopt various scientific methods to collect data on the population for health promotion purposes. For example, they gather data about sex, age, income, race as well as disabilities which can be used to inform health promotion strategies Statistics have brought about health promotion through utilization in research and the yielding of useful insight. Examples include the control of infectious disease, motor-vehicle safety, work safety, immunization of children routinely, and so forth. Further, the 21st century has seen the application of health statistics yield personalized medication based on genetic profiling as well as disease modification through early diagnosis (Thomas, 2014). Leadership Healthcare leadership is faced with critical decision-making opportunities all the time. Having data from quantitative research provides the critical insight they need to make their decisions. Further, these statistics provide the leadership of various health care centers with descriptive statistics on the cost incurred in the purchase of medical goods, their efficacy, and the

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utility of services. It shows the areas that require further improvement and those that need further investments. Statistics are used to establish benchmarks that will be used by their facilities to enhance their performance and quality of healthcare provided. These excellence standards serve as the gauge that is used to determine how the care provider is performing and their overall growth towards the set targets. As healthcare providers strive to attain leadership in the industry, statistics are critical in helping them determine the right amount of resources necessary to achieve their set goals (Thomas, 2014). Acquisition and Application of Statistical Knowledge in Day-to-Day Operations As a healthcare provider, statistical knowledge automatically comes into use in daily healthcare provision. It is obtained from different areas such as the patients who provide information on their demographic. We are then able to capture their age, gender, academic level, income level, and so forth. It is also obtained from the clinical setup in terms of their temperature, blood cell count, weight, height, and so forth. This information is instrumental in the provision of care because it provides insight into the condition of the patient and the care procedure to take. It also tells which additional services the patient needs such as nutritional assistance based. Further, as we strive to engage in personalized medical care, this information is critical in the process of decision making from one patient to the other. In conclusion, statistical data plays a critical role in health care. The application of this data has enabled operators in the field to improve their operations, enhance the safety, quality, and leadership in healthcare. Professionals in this field must have statistical knowledge since they need in their day-to-day operations

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Aggarwal, R. (2018). Statistical literacy for healthcare professionals: Why is it important?. Annals of cardiac anesthesia, 21(4), 349–350. https://doi.org/10.4103/aca.ACA_177_18 Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6206780/ ASA (2017). Statistics Improves Health Caresignificance. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/url? sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiu4vWo37 jsAhXsDWMBHThXAi8QFjAEegQIEBAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amstat.org %2Fasa%2Ffiles%2Fpdfs%2FStatSig %2FStatSigHealthCare.pdf&usg=AOvVaw2DAw0HZNptwOhmtmQGL0U3 Bartkowiak, B. A., & Finnegan, B. J. (2004). Health statistics. Clinical medicine & research, 2(3), 189–190. https://doi.org/10.3121/cmr.2.3.189 Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1069092/ Thomas, K (2014). Importance of Health Statistics Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20141106134202-34529931-importance-of-healthstatistics...