The term «Big Data» is often used to describe the collection and analysis of large volumes of data. In particular, it focuses on generating usable insights from these data for a wide range of applications.
Big Data can have significant impact on patients, clinicians and entire health systems, for example by:
- improving decision-making processes with real-time analytics
- enhancing patient-centric health care and increasing quality of care
- detecting health threats and improving disease monitoring
- facilitating rapid and transparent acquisition of large sets of data
- reducing waste of resources, which can help lower health-care costs
- detecting fraud
SAMS addresses the potential of Big Data-related themes especially within the SERI-funded Swiss Personalized Health Network (SPHN).
Swiss Personalized Health Network (SPHN)
Since 2017, SPHN is mandated by the Swiss Confederation and is placed under the responsibility of the SAMS in collaboration with the SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics in order to provide a national infrastructure for research with health data.
SPHN supports researchers throughout all phases of their projects: from identifying relevant data and meeting legal requirements to providing a secure environment for data analysis. The network also promotes the quality of clinical data by enabling hospitals to make their data interoperable in line with national and international standards.
Patient, doctor, Big Data
In 2018, the SAMS and the Swiss Science Council dedicated a common workshop to the changes induced by Big Data regarding the role of physicians, patients, and our understanding of health and disease.
White Paper
In 2014, the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences conducted an interdisciplinary workshop on «Big Data in Healthcare». Experts summarized the results of the workshop in a white paper published in the «Swiss Academies Communications» series.