Intelligent healthcare: The case of the emergency department

The US healthcare system is often regarded as a complex, fragmented, and imbalanced system in the world, providing high-quality care to patients with advanced technological innovations and healthcare services, while accessible to only those who could afford such services with the high cost of care (Oster and Braaten 2016). 66Thanks to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, all Americans can at least give access to the basic healthcare service, which is considered as a significant progress in the history of healthcare reforms in the United States (Gonzalez 2013). No doubt, technological innovations, medical advancements, market conditions, use and analysis of electronic medical records (EMRs) and big data in clinical decision making, adoption of cloud computing, application of comparative effectiveness requirements for medicines, and evidence-based medicine have potentially created a convergent force that is effectively transforming healthcare (Ledbetter and Morgan 2001). In particular, the healthcare industry has seen significant changes in how clinical decisions are being made using actionable intelligence with the integration of various technological advancements to provide real-time solutions to specific patients in a timely manner. The ability to analyze clinical and cost data across all settings of care is essential for the future clinical and financial success of the healthcare industry.