These are exciting times. More than ever before, patients, the public and healthcare professionals need access to information to make informed choices and ensure high quality care.
The team at HDI understands the NHS and how it works or sometimes does not. We are experts in finding and joining up complex healthcare data and we use this to gain insight and an understanding of how care is delivered.
We develop software tools to help present information in an accessible way and we work with a range of customers in the NHS, local government, charities and industry to help them understand and access healthcare information.
"Making healthcare information work for people"
“Index of Suspicion” has received a Cancer Research UK Pioneer Award
HDI has been awarded a Cancer Research UK Pioneer Award for research to improve the early diagnosis of cancer using machine learning and computer-based inference algorithms. We will analyse very large linked and unlinked datasets to ask:
1) Is it possible to identify patterns in medication given prior to the diagnosis of cancer and other data to derive an “index of suspicion” that a patient is at increased likelihood of developing subsequent cancer?
for different types of cancer; our suspicion is that the index may be most valuable for patients with cancers that present with vague symptoms – e.g. pancreatic, ovarian, stomach or brain cancer.
for different stages of presentation of the same cancer: for example, can we use the index to help identify common cancers at an earlier stage when they would have a better prognosis?
2) Using the index of suspicion derived in 1), can we risk-stratify patients in the unlinked prescription data to identify those who might be most at risk of developing a particular cancer?
‘Index of Suspicion’ in the news:
GP prescription patterns could help diagnose cancer patients earlier
Researchers are compiling an anonymous dataset of primary care prescription data – totalling 80m prescriptions a month – to identify patterns that could help GPs catch cancer earlier. Scientists will use GP data to look for trends in medications given to patients before they were diagnosed with cancer – allowing them to flag up any new patients who exhibit similar tell-tale signs and may need referring for further tests.
Pancreatic cancer symptoms – THIS could help diagnose silent killer cancers
Cancer Research UK-funded scientists are examining of finding patterns in medication given to patients before they develop cancer could improve early diagnosis. Looking for patterns in prescriptions and other data could help guide GP referrals, especially in patients with non-specific symptoms that don’t obviously indicate cancer.
Past prescriptions could help GPs diagnose cancer
Britain has one of the lowest cancer survival rates in Western Europe This is partly attributed to family doctors diagnosing the illness too late Trial launched to examine 960m prescriptions handed out by GPs each year Patients could be diagnosed with cancer more quickly if GPs examined their past prescriptions, scientists claim.
Computers could catch cancer early by reading patterns in patients’ medical history
COMPUTERS could spot cancer early by looking for patterns in patients’ prescription and medical history, scientists say. Researchers from Health Data Insight are trawling through millions of NHS records to try to identify these links. A breakthrough by the firm would allow doctors to diagnose the disease before patients report any obvious symptoms. Earlier diagnosis boosts survival chances.
Below are a selection of our projects. Click on an image to read details of the project.
Our Aims
HDI is a social enterprise that has been set up to act as a trusted and reliable Information Broker. We aim to do three things:
Improve Access
Improve access to data and information to all existing and potential users, providers and commissioners of healthcare services.
Provide Valuable Resource
Help patients and the public to understand the value of their own and other healthcare data by providing guidance and interpretation that supports informed choice and access across healthcare providers.
Improve Care Pathways
Support commissioners and providers in the delivery of improved care pathways and outcomes to ensure the community receives the best care.
Get in touch
If you deal with healthcare data and have an imaginative proposal for a project or a problem to solve, then please get in touch.