Becker's Hospital Review

35 DATA ANALYTICS & INFORMATICS Fitbits could be used to predict oncoming flu outbreaks By Gabrielle Masson I nformation tracked by wearable sensors, such as Fitbits, could be used to improve flu surveillance and prevent outbreaks, according to a study published Jan. 16 in The Lancet. The flu can elevate resting heart rate and sleep levels, data that can be collected by Fitbits. Researchers analyzed Fitbit sleep and heart rate data and compared it to flu population trends reported by the CDC. Data was taken from 47,249 individuals who wore a Fitbit for at least 60 days from March 1, 2016, to March 1, 2018, in California, Texas, New York, Illinois and Pennsylvania. The study found weekly changes in abnormal Fitbit data were associated with weekly changes in flu rates. Fitbit data improved flu predictions in all five states by 6.3 to 32.9 percent. Data from activity and physiological trackers could be used to improve real-time and geographically refined flu surveillance, study authors wrote, adding that the information could help enact timely action to prevent further flu transmission. n Mayo Clinic launches data analytics initiative for drug discovery By Andrea Park A n analytics-driven platform will be Mayo Clinic Platform's first venture, with an aim of using advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence to develop new treatments for disease, Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic announced Jan. 14. The Clinical Data Analytics Platform will analyze deidentified data from Mayo Clinic, as well as other healthcare organizations and published stud- ies and reports. The platform will prioritize data privacy, with participants from different organizations able to collaborate on the development of its underlying algorithms without sharing datasets. The first of Mayo Clinic's partners for the initiative is Nference, a startup developing AI-enabled biomedical software in which Mayo Clinic Ven- tures invested in January. Integrating Nference's existing AI technology into the Clinical Data Analytics Platform will enable researchers to better identify drug targets and biomarkers, thus advancing the development of drugs to prevent, treat and cure complex diseases, according to a news release sent to Becker's Hospital Review. Mayo Clinic Platform was established in 2019 to launch a portfolio of platform ventures, leveraging AI, connected devices and other emerging technologies, and the expertise of a network of partners. As of Jan. 1, Mayo Clinic Platform is led by John Halamka, MD, former longtime CIO of Boston-based Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. n The 'data-driven physician' is on the rise: Stanford Medicine report By Andrea Park I n spite of the difficulties associated with implementing new technologies into healthcare, most physicians are not just open to disruption, but are readily embrac- ing it by seeking tech training and launch- ing data-driven initiatives, according to a report from Stanford (Calif.) Medicine. More than 700 physicians, residents and medical students were surveyed for the insti- tution's 2020 Health Trends Report, revealing that the majority are actively preparing for and adapting to the ongoing technological transformation of healthcare delivery. According to the survey, almost half of all physicians surveyed and 73 percent of medical students are pursuing additional training to prepare for health tech innova- tions. at training is reportedly clustered in the realm of data analytics, in subjects such as advanced statistics, genetic counsel- ing, population health and coding. Respondents also reported significant reliance on digitally gathered data to inform care: About 80 percent of physicians agreed self-reported data from patients' health apps and devices is clinically valuable, and more than 70 percent said they use data from their own wearable health monitor- ing devices to make decisions about their personal health. "We found that current and future physi- cians are not only open to new technologies but are actively seeking training in subjects such as data science to enhance care for their patients," Lloyd Minor, MD, dean of the Stanford University School of Medicine, said in a statement. "We are encouraged by these findings and the opportunity they present to improve patient outcomes. At the same time, we must be clear-eyed about the challenges that may stymie progress." n

• Cover