The Role of Predictive Analytics and Clinical Decision Support in Value-Based Care

When we think of predictive analytics, chronic disease usually comes to mind because it constitutes the biggest opportunity for cost avoidance. The goal is use data to predict which patients are trending in the wrong direction and trigger an intervention before the point of no return when costs begin to uncontrollably snowball. This form of strategic prevention, if successful, can yield a sizable and immediate return on investment (ROI).

To make predictive analytics actionable requires access to integrated data in real-time. To make it successful requires that providers act on it to drive the intended outcome.

Clinical decision support (CDS) is the preferred method to analyze vast stores of data, identify insights, and send actionable alerts, all in real-time. But despite wide use over the last 15 years, CDS has often failed to live up to its potential.