To the Point
Can Big Data Make Healthcare Better, Cheaper?
Medical records are being digitized to cut healthcare costs and produce better outcomes. It also means a loss of patient privacy. We weigh the risks and the benefits.
By Warren Olney • • 52m ListenMedical records are being digitized on a massive scale to bring down the costs of healthcare and, maybe, to produce better outcomes. It also means a loss of patient privacy. We weigh the risks and the benefits of Big Data in the field of medicine. Also, JP Morgan may face criminal action in the Madoff case, and the nations of Africa race to compete — in space.
In this episode
3 storiesJP Morgan May Face Criminal Action in Madoff Case
Five years ago, Bernard Madoff confessed to a $17 billion Ponzi scheme, the biggest in history, insisting that he acted alone. He also said his separate market-making operation was legitimate. But it's reported today that JP Morgan Chase is likely to pay a billion dollars in penalties to end a criminal probe of its involvement.
Read the story8 minBig Data for Healthcare: What about Patient Privacy?
President Obama's Affordable Care Act promotes the digitization of millions of medical records to measure outcomes and contain costs. Big Data may also help doctors better understand many diseases, who's most likely to get them and what the best treatments might be.
Read the story36 minAn African Space Station on the Horizon
South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt and Morocco all have space programs. Ghana and Ethiopia are racing to catch up. And the African Union is working on AfriSpace to unite more than 40 nations in a single effort. Many African nations are dirt poor, with agriculture the major industry, conducted by small subsistence farmers.
Read the story8 min
