Running head: SIGNIFICANCE OF STATISTICS

Application of Statistics

Vivian Year Pilar

Grand Canyon University

8/9/2019
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Significance of Statistics in Health Care

According to Stewart (2018), statistics can be defined as mathematical science which

applies quantitative principles in data collection, analysis, and presentation. Its uses sample data

collected from a population to make conclusions and aids decision making. The population under

study can be a community, institution, or a natural phenomenon like a hurricane. Data scientists

design different quantitative models to be used in investigating different topic based on the type

of data that needs to be collected or interpreted. Applied statistics is the application of computer-

based data analytic methods to a given issue. For example, interpretation of data or evidence that

links a genetic factors to a disease is statistical problem example.

Quantitative techniques and knowledge are needed when formulating data collection and

analysis methods. Data scientists process data into information and interpret the finding in order

to make it easy for readers to understand. Additionally, to ensure that the data is accurate and

reliable, reliability evaluations are made. Theoretical statistics uses probability theories to solve

general statistical problems. Statistics has a vital role to play in the decision-making process in

healthcare organizations. According to Grim Shaw (2015), technological advancement aids the

implementation of complex statistical models within medical software. This makes it possible for

non-statisticians to easily use such equipment’s in their day-to-day operation. This paper seeks

to establish how statistics can be adopted in healthcare organizations in order to improve safety,

quality, and leadership and promote health. There are diverse set of tools used for data collection

in both private and public healthcare institutions (Harper & McNair, 2017). Health surveys,

hospital enrollment, medical records and billing documents are some of the tools used to collect

data. Health centers, hospitals, physicians, and governments health plans are the key sources of
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health data. However, individual organizations don’t have the capacity to independently and

entirely harvest data on race and ethnicity for the whole patients' population.

Therefore, data redundancy should be eliminated by integrating it with that from other

sources. Additionally, it’s imperative to incorporate the data into the existing systems without

bleaching patient privacy policies. According to Glaser (2018), allocation of adequate and

necessary resources to healthcare technology aids collection and exchange of data using digital

health record systems.

Health promotion

Healthcare organizations use statistical information to design educative medical programs that

create awareness and promote good health in the community. They provide insight that improve

well-being, lower health inequality and strengthen public health. The risk of developing diseases

such as diabetes has been linked to family history. This can only be determined using

sophisticated statistical techniques and knowledge. Data scientists developed assessment tools

that predicts the likelihood of such occurrences. This facilitates early detection and treatment of

the disease through screening which minimizes the overall medical costs and leads to improved

health outcome.

Safety

Healthcare organizations use modern statistical tools to maintain safe and sufficient blood

supply. It facilitates the identification of suitable blood donors and eliminates the risk of

transfusion-transmitted diseases and infections. According to Leung (2016), career growth and

childbearing puts most America women in a dilemma. As a woman ages, their fertility reduces

and the risk of developing pregnancy-related complications increases. Using statistical models,

physicians can correctly advise mothers-to-be on how to successfully conceive naturally before
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adopting reproductive technologies. Additionally, reliable statistical data reduces the risks trade-

offs in the of health care industry.

Quality Improvement

Health care institutions use statistical data to identify community needs and compare them with

their existing products or services in order to identify areas that require improvement. Symptoms

such as fatigue and pain are hard to measure. Statistics facilitates development of measurement

clinical tools for self-reported conditions such as fatigues and pain which are hard to measure.

Additionally, questionnaires that are statistically formulated assists in understanding patients

better which results in higher patient’s satisfaction. Therefore, clinical researchers and healthcare

providers are able to efficiently harvest patients' data and establish the effective treatment plan.

Pharmaceutical technology companies use statistical data to developed products that are tailored

to the needs of their target market.

Leadership

Statistical data aids decision-making. It enables nursing leaders to determine, evaluate and

monitor the progress of medical projects (Beatty, 2018). Additionally, it’s also enables them to

identify key areas that need improvement so as to achieve goals and objectives. Quality

assurance managers use probability to estimate future outcomes and establish service excellence

standards. Additionally, healthcare organizations are able to measure their level of success or

failure. Statistical data enables performance analysts to determine the growth of a healthcare

organization. Nursing leaders also use this information in the allocation of inadequate resources

such as qualified nurses. Healthcare managers use statistics when determining the right

combination of products to manufacture, resource allocation and the target market.

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References

Beatty, W. (2018). The Decision Making Process. SpringerBriefs in Statistics, 1-2.

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-68264-8_1

Glaser, J. (2018). Data Challenges on the EHR Agenda. Glaser on Health Care IT, 211-214.

doi:10.4324/9781315366180-42

Grimshaw, S. D. (2015). A Framework for Infusing Authentic Data Experiences Within

Statistics Courses. The American Statistician, 69(4), 307-314.

doi:10.1080/00031305.2015.1081106

Harper, E. M., & McNair, D. (2017). The Power of Disparate Data Sources for Answering

Thorny Questions in Healthcare: Four Case Studies. Big Data-Enabled Nursing, 331-

369. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-53300-1_18

Leung, M. D. (2016). The Dilemma of Mobility: The Differential Effects of Women and Men's

Erratic Career Paths. SSRN Electronic Journal. doi:10.2139/ssrn.2833691

Stewart, A. (2018). What are statistics? Basic Statistics and Epidemiology, 1-2.

doi:10.1201/9781315383286-1