WA Health deploys predictive analytics

Western Australia is set to harness predictive modelling technology currently used in industries such as finance and retail for the benefit of its public health system in 2013.

Initiated by the WA Department of Health, the Predictive Analytics Project will enable new ways of forecasting health service activity such as inpatient, emergency department and ambulance demand.

According to tender documents released last week, predictive analytics software will be procured in coming months along with expert training for members of the Department’s Performance Activity and Quality Division to use the technology.

In addition to predicting service activity levels, the project will also identify health-related population trends and unusual activity events. “This will enable timely advice to be provided to the executive and allow the development and implementation of targeted proactive interventions,” the documents state.

It says this will be of particular benefit “where it is likely that the identified activity will negatively impact on system capacity or patient flow if it is not appropriately managed.”

The other aspect of the project will be to assist the Department with identifying relationships between the health system’s performance indicators and how they compare with actual health service delivery.