Electronic patient records, telemedicine and big data: the importance of data in the healthcare sector is growing. Since the coronavirus pandemic at the latest, it has become clear that this topic affects us all. In the 19th episode of the Digital Public Health Podcast, host Rasmus Cloes talks to Dr. Timm Intemann about how the handling of data in health research is changing.
Dr. Timm Intemann, Operational Project Manager at the Centre for Research Data Infrastructure and Data Science at BIPS, is an expert in complex datasets in the healthcare sector. In this episode of the Digital Public Health Podcast with host Rasmus Cloes, he explains what health data encompasses - from clinical and health insurance data to environmental and behavioural data. This range highlights how many factors influence our health and the importance of comprehensive data collection.
Another focus of the conversation is the challenges of data linkage in Germany. Intemann explains why Germany's federal system makes efficient use of health data difficult. He draws a comparison to Scandinavian countries, which, through central registers and citizen IDs, provide much better conditions for fast and data-protection-compliant data linkage. These international models could offer important insights for the further development of Germany's research infrastructure.
The electronic patient record (ePA) is now being rolled out nationwide. Our podcast guest describes why the opt-out procedure could be a significant step forward, even though it may take years for the ePA to fully realise its benefits for research and deliver valuable data.
Artificial Intelligence and Big Data offer new opportunities for research, especially in pattern recognition and predicting health outcomes. Intemann discusses the potential of these technologies to uncover previously unknown correlations and improve healthcare. However, he also stresses the importance of using this data responsibly and avoiding the trap of unreflective data analysis.
The podcast concludes with visions for the future of health research. Intemann emphasises that the ideal handling of health data relies not only on technology but also on clear legal frameworks and human collaboration in research.
Listen now on:
