Healthcare is generating more data than ever before, but volume alone doesn’t equal value. Across health systems globally, leaders are asking the same question: how do we turn health data into real, measurable impact?

In my latest article for the Forbes Technology Council, I explore why healthcare continues to struggle with translating data into better outcomes, despite rapid advances in digital health technology. Frontline clinicians clearly understand where the problems lie, and the tools to address them already exist. Yet fragmented systems, disconnected data, and slow or inconsistent policy decision-making continue to limit the true impact of health data.

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated what’s possible when urgency removes red tape. Data was shared faster, decisions were made quicker, and collaboration across organisations improved almost overnight. The challenge now is sustaining that momentum without waiting for another crisis to force change.

Real health data impact occurs when information is connected, contextualised, and communicated in ways that influence policy and action. A compelling example is New Zealand’s Healthy Homes initiative. Within three years of implementation, hospitalisations from participating households fell by nearly 20%. This outcome wasn’t driven solely by data collection, but by technology that connected health, housing, and social data to clearly demonstrate cause and effect.

To improve healthcare outcomes at scale, we must move beyond dashboards and reports toward storytelling that shows how data can drive equitable, system-wide change. When health data is translated into evidence that decision-makers can act on, technology becomes a catalyst for better care, not just another system to manage.

We already have the capability to create meaningful health data impact. The opportunity now is to use it intentionally, consistently, and at scale.

Read my full article on Forbes Technology Council.

Brad Porter
CEO, Orion Health and Chief Commercial Officer, HEALWELL AI.
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