In partnership with IBM®, GovLoop is conducting a four-part guide series, The Journey to Big Data and Analytics Adoption. This series of reports has emphasized how big data has transformed government agencies.
In Chapter 1, we discussed how organizations could leverage their most critical asset: data. Throughout Chapter 2, we highlighted big data’s role to help counter fraud. Chapter 3 provided insights into how data and information has been improving the safety of our communities. In our final chapter, we explore how data is allowing government agencies and social workers to break free from the one-size-fits-all model and deliver more customized health and social care solutions.
Today, there are a variety of issues that come into play when providing social programs to those in need. It’s beyond just looking at lifestyle choices, social determinants and clinical factors. Proper care revolves around looking at how these factors are interconnected and using them to create a full view of the citizen.
Picture a citizen, Jane, who receives home health services through Medicare. The healthcare agency coordinating care should have the proper insights about everything related to Jane’s care. Although these insights would lead to improved services and more efficient spending, this level of collaboration often does not exist.
This is what IBM’s Smarter Care approach seeks to accomplish. At its core, Smarter Care looks to create an ecosystem of care. Jane’s caseworker should have the ability to know all the programs, medications, social determinants and any relevant information that will help improve her wellness and provide a tailored care plan. These insights can only come from removing data silos and increasing collaboration across government agencies and between sectors. Smarter Care powers a more holistic view of the citizen.
By taking the Smarter Care approach, agencies can connect the dots and find value and meaning for various inputs. This will improve the wellness of a citizen and provide data-driven insights to a social worker. Not only does a holistic approach to citizen needs improve services, it also enables productivity gains for employees. In this chapter of our report, we will discuss and examine:
- The IBM approach to Smarter Care.
- Case studies of successful use cases.
- Insights from GovLoop and IBM trainings on the Smarter Care approach.
- Interviews with IBM subject matter experts.
The bottom line is that Jane and citizens nationwide deserve better, more tailored care– and IBM’s Smarter Care is one way for agencies to move toward such a system. Let’s explore how.
The IBM Analytics Solution Center (ASC) is part of a network of global analytics centers that provides clients with the analytics expertise to help them solve their toughest business problems. Check out their Analytics to Outcomes group on GovLoop.
