Paving the way for the use of prediction modelling in a hospital environment

Abstract

ENGLISH ABRACT: The high cost of hospitalisation is a challenge for many health insurance companies, governments and individuals alike. In 2006, studies concluded that well over $30 billion was spent on unnecessary hospitalisation in the United States of America. In all likelihood this could have been prevented through early patient diagnosis and treatment so, there is room for improvement in this regard. Prevention is always better than cure; especially where lives are at stake and successful decisions regarding hospitalisation prediction may make unnecessary hospitalisation a realistic possibility. The aim of this paper is to pave the way for the development of successful hospitalisation prediction models.