The data innovation revolution

A model wears a shirt embedded with sensors that read real-time biometric data. (Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters)

The Aug. 25 Sports article "Moneyball 2.0: Player health" detailed the growing role data analytics play in preventing and predicting sports injuries.

It’s worth noting such software-enabled breakthroughs are revolutionizing health care at a phenomenal pace. Yet with these great advances comes greater responsibility. In our increasingly data-reliant world, a huge opportunity exists to craft policies that address patients’ concerns about their data while providing room for the sort of innovation that’s leading to better health worldwide.

Such innovation is, in many cases, extending and saving lives. For instance, researchers have developed an algorithm that can predict cardiac arrest a crucial four hours in advance by combining real-time data with patients’ medical histories. Moving from two-dimensional to three-dimensional imagery for mammography is improving breast cancer detection rates. And researchers have shocked doctors with data showing that premature infants with unusually stable vital signs correlated with serious fevers the next day — enabling doctors to take preventive actions.

Moving forward with amazing technological progress requires positive policy steps on data as well. Countless people worldwide stand to benefit.

Victoria Espinel, Washington

The writer is president and chief executive of BSA: The Software Alliance.