Health analytics: the road not traveled

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• The definition and practice of health administration have evolved over time.
• A shift towards a business management model has influenced health administration programs.
• Health analytics have been increasingly overlooked in academic health administration curricula.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the historical development of health administration through textbook analysis.
• To highlight the underrepresentation of health analytics in health administration education.
• To redefine health analytics within the context of public health administration.

Main Methods:

• Chronological review of health administration textbooks.
• Analysis of the evolution of definitions and core components in health administration.
• Conceptual definition and contextualization of health analytics.

Main Results:

• Health administration definitions have transformed, increasingly adopting a business management framework.
• Health analytics, defined as techniques requiring deep health system understanding, are undervalued.
• Key aspects like quality assessment and planning are integral to health analytics, not just business applications.

Conclusions:

• The business model conversion in health administration has led to the neglect of health analytics.
• Health analytics are distinct from mere business techniques and are vital for effective health services.
• Integrating a robust understanding of health analytics is crucial for modern public health administration programs.