Corporate Social Responsibility at HIMSS17
Can data analytics really help to save lives? Check out these examples!
Writing this blog post fills me with an incredible sense of pride in the work Qlik has been doing for many years, supporting humanitarian organizations in using data to both improve and save lives around the world.
During the HIMSS conference in February (19th-23rd), some of these organizations will be joining us to share the massive impact data analytics is having on their work and the communities they support.
They have enabled children’s cleft palate procedures to be provided free of charge in more than 85 developing countries. As a result of their work, more than 1 million children around the world now have the power of a smile, often in the face of terrible adversity. Smile Train draws a rich and multifaceted dataset from varied sources: the world’s largest cleft-related database, containing information on over 1 million field-reported surgical, speech, and orthodontic treatments provided in 85+ countries; logistics, successes and barriers to care detailed by partners in an annual survey; external demographic indicators; programmatic grants and grant outcomes, as well as, fundraising and internal, organizational data.
Qlik allows Smile Train’s global staff efficient access to this extensive dataset. Qlik's visualization and analytics enable Smile Train to establish programmatic and organizational baselines, map progress and make long-term strategic decisions based on an accurate, up-to-date stats and measurable need. I am excited to see the work they are doing firsthand during the event and understand the impact data analytics is having on their organization.
Their work brings hospital ships to the poorest and most vulnerable people on earth: it is truly inspiring. In 2016 Mercy Ships ran a pilot project in Benin, West Africa, to screen patients in the field using mobile devices. This data was gathered and sent to our hospital ship, the m/v Africa Mercy for review by medical staff. The hospital medical staff then returned their responses to the field screening staff via their mobile devices.
Using this screening data, we used the Qlik platform to develop a strategic overview of medical conditions throughout the nation. By implementing mapping technologies and Qlik’s feature sets, we enabled programmatic teams to gain insights into observed conditions across demographics and geography. The result is information and that can be used for strategic planning, decision-making, and partner collaboration.
They act as the humanitarian supply chain for those affected by poverty or emergency situations by mobilizing and shipping essential medical resources. One of the biggest challenges they face is managing a time-critical supply chain of hundreds of medical and general aid products. The more efficient the supply chain, the faster and more effective the relief effort, so in many ways, data is the key to unlocking their success.
Direct Relief have used Qlik applications across the entire organization, supporting conversations with medics on the ground, warehouse and logistics workers and even informing their donors of the value and impact their donations have had. The CEO talks readily about the data-driven environment they have created, saying “We live in the data now. It’s how we think, communicate and interact.” I am delighted they are joining us at HIMSS17 to share their stories and show us the very real impact analytics has had on their relief efforts.
Last but definitely not least is one of Qlik’s longest partnerships in our Change Our World program of support. Medair does whatever it takes to bring relief where it’s needed most: providing a range of emergency relief and recovery services. Health care and nutrition. Safe water, sanitation, and hygiene. Shelter and infrastructure.
Medair is currently operating a Syrian refugee camp in Lebanon. With tablets in-hand they interview each refugee in the camp about all pertinent information. Where they are from, what relatives they are with or looking for, medical conditions, and more. They share their data with NGOs and volunteer groups so the next day, the next person can simply ask a name. If this was in a hospital setting, we would say “of course” that’s just electronic medical records. But in an overcrowded camp in Lebanon where people are displaced and in despair and paper records can easily be destroyed in a fire or flood, being acknowledged as a person instead of a number is everything.
So to answer my original question, can data analytics really help to save lives: the answer is emphatically “yes”! Pop by booth 1035 at HIMSS and meet some of the inspiring people making this a reality.
