ABSTRACT
Big data has gained tremendous interest in the past decade due to the hidden potential in its voluminous, heterogeneous and dynamic data. In order to manage the healthcare industry effectively, processing, storing and analysing this data is indispensable. This management will benefit the patient in terms of better services and offer advantage to the healthcare industry financially. This chapter studies big data and its applications and challenges with respect to healthcare. The definition of ‘big data’, its process and its application in healthcare management have been discussed. Unstructured data is growing rapidly compared to other forms of data; for instance, structured date and semi-structured data, where the major chunk is composed of unstructured data. Collection, storage, management, analysis and visualization of big data constitute the vital steps in the healthcare industry, with data visualization being the latest target. The chapter aims to help the readers understand its processing and usage, and unearth big data advantages in the management of the healthcare domain.
