Data analytics plays a central role in population health by using patient and community data to help key demographics receive timely, high-quality healthcare. When public health professionals apply data-driven insights to their work, they can identify emerging health threats, address care gaps and direct resources where needed.
Coursework in the online Master of Public Health (MPH) – General program from Eastern Washington University (EWU) provides students with the data analytics and information management expertise to advance public health across a wide range of settings. Graduates can leverage their gained skills and knowledge to excel in leadership roles and make a difference in their communities.
Why is Data Analytics in Healthcare Important? Improving Outcomes Through Better Information
Data analytics is important in healthcare because it gives public health professionals the concrete evidence to identify community health issues, evaluate interventions and allocate resources effectively. Without reliable data, professionals cannot accurately assess current population needs or track whether their programs are making a measurable difference.
Alongside raw data, digital tools powered by analytics help populations access care, measure the quality of that care and respond to emerging health threats. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Public Health Data Strategy (PHDS), launched in 2023 and updated through 2025, works to accelerate analytical capabilities across public health systems. This initiative helps professionals move from data collection to actionable insights faster than ever before.
Today, laboratories and public health professionals use advanced analytics and cloud-based solutions to tackle emerging health threats in complex but efficient ways. A 2025 data brief from the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP) found that in 2024, nearly all non-federal acute care hospitals reported core public health data electronically, including immunization registries, syndromic surveillance and laboratory results.
Health technology advances also benefit patients directly. For instance, smart devices allow individuals to book appointments, communicate with providers and track their own health metrics, reducing the burden on healthcare facilities while improving the flow of data across the system.
This interconnected data infrastructure keeps medical records accurate and accessible, reducing the risk of documentation errors that could affect patient safety. Additionally, automating medical records and analytics enables nurses and other health professionals to spend less time on administrative tasks and more time delivering direct, data-informed care.
Data Analytics Careers in Public Health and Health Informatics
Data analytics careers in public health are growing rapidly, driven by the expanding use of wearable devices, electronic health records and digital surveillance systems. The rise of consumer health informatics, such as patient-facing devices and apps that capture individual health data, is generating a new wave of population-level insights. Wearables that track steps, heart rate and stress levels give public health professionals a richer, more continuous picture of community health patterns.
As adoption of these technologies grows, so does demand for skilled professionals who can interpret and act on the data they generate. For instance, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment of epidemiologists will grow 16% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations. Similarly, BLS estimates 15% employment growth for health information technologists and medical registrars over the same period, reflecting the increasing volume of health data that professionals must analyze, manage and apply to improve community outcomes.
Through using large-scale data to identify at-risk populations and tailor interventions, precision public health adds significant value to how public health professionals understand and respond to community health challenges. As data analytics capabilities expand, consumer health informatics will continue to grow across the healthcare, technology and public health sectors.
Better Understand of the Role of Data Analytics with a Master’s Degree
One way to better understand the role of data analytics as a public health professional is to expand career options and expertise by earning an MPH degree. Those who enroll in EWU’s online MPH program develop data analytics competencies to make strategic differences in population health outcomes.
Students examine sociological perspectives on healthcare inequities and develop strategies to address them through. This intensive program, which students can complete in as few as 14 months, allows students to analyze public health issues and apply both public and private funding concepts to public health initiatives.
For example, the Biostatistics course covers the basics of quantitative and qualitative analysis of biological data across all areas of public health. In the Program Planning, Evaluation and Process Improvement course, students focus on developing core competencies to help communities through resources critical to the field.
Building expertise in data analytics and information management positions MPH graduates to enter influential public health roles. Each student gains the knowledge required for careers such as public health educator, contact tracer, community health advisor or biostatistician. EWU’s comprehensive online MPH degree prepares students with the analytical frameworks, practical tools and interdisciplinary perspectives needed to make a meaningful impact in the field.
Learn more about Eastern Washington University’s online MPH – General program.
