Forbes November 18, 2019
For centuries, medicine has largely relied on a single primary source of information for the diagnosis and treatment of disease: individual patients. This data stream has become increasingly complex over time due to advances in imaging, biochemistry and genetics, but it is still patient-based.
Now, a second stream is emerging that I believe is likely to impact the entire healthcare delivery system, both in terms of outcomes and economics: population-based data. The sources of this data could include census records, various government agencies and community health records. The information it provides could span neighborhood and housing conditions, economic stability, education levels, social and community conditions and the availability of healthcare. All of these could contribute to a three-dimensional view of...