Gbemisola Akinteye on Bridging the Gap between Technology and Patient Care

The fusion of technology and patient care is crucial. It enhances medical decision-making with data-driven insights, which leads to more accurate diagnoses and personalized treatment plans. Additionally, it improves the efficiency of healthcare delivery, reducing costs and increasing accessibility to quality healthcare services.

The global medical technology market is expected to be worth $953.4 billion by 2027. Within this vast field, healthcare informatics – which utilizes information technology to manage and analyze healthcare data – is a growing sector, projected to reach a valuation of $100 billion by 2030. Healthcare informatics facilitates the integration of medical technology by providing the infrastructure and tools necessary to collect, store, and utilize medical information for improved patient care and healthcare system efficiency.

An industry expert in this field is Gbemisola Elizabeth Akinteye, who relocated from Nigeria to the US to pursue her career, expanding upon her background in microbiology to become one of the foremost thought leaders in healthcare informatics. Her experience with quality assurance, life/health insurance, public health, and health informatics/data analytics provides her with a unique perspective and a multidisciplinary approach to transforming healthcare.

“Healthcare informatics is the bridge that connects data, technology, and patient care, enabling us to create a healthcare ecosystem that is both efficient and also profoundly patient-centric,” Akinteye says. “It has such a wide reach – which is why I chose to leverage my multi-faceted background toward pursuing research in this field.”

Akinteye’s education started with an undergraduate degree in microbiology; then she worked in quality assurance, where she honed her skills in ensuring that healthcare and pharmaceutical services met rigorous standards. This experience was pivotal in understanding the importance of efficiency and quality in patient care. She learned both how to be adaptable and developed a firm commitment to making a difference in healthcare.

“When I worked in life and health insurance, I was exposed to the intricacies of healthcare financing and the critical role it plays in delivering accessible healthcare to individuals,” Akinteye says. “This broadened my perspective on the healthcare ecosystem and reinforced my desire to contribute positively.”

As she then worked in public health, Akinteye learned the importance of preventive healthcare measures, health education, and population health management. Her hands-on involvement in public health initiatives underscored the importance of data-driven decision-making in addressing healthcare disparities and enhancing overall well-being.

“At last I found my true calling in Healthcare informatics and Data analytics,” Akinteye says. She has completed her master’s degree in this field, and is determined to stay at the forefront of healthcare technology. She is currently researching the implementation of Lean Management principles for process improvement and efficiency in the US healthcare industry.

“Finding innovative solutions to enhance healthcare delivery is part of what I’m researching,” Akinteye says. “My work delves into Lean Management Principles, a methodology known for streamlining processes and eliminating waste. I believe that applying these principles to the healthcare industry in the US can drive process improvement and efficiency. This holds huge potential for enhancing the quality of patient care, reducing operational costs, and optimizing resource allocation for health equity.”

Akinteye has created a strong network shaped by her active participation in professional associations. She is a member of prestigious organizations such as the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA), the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). She is also a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Women In Technology of Tennessee (WITT), Society of Women Engineers (SWE), National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), and the American Association of University Women (AAUW), where she was a scholarship recipient.

Over the next few years, Akinteye has definite plans for her work within the healthcare informatics industry. “I would like to lead initiatives that bridge the gap between technology and healthcare delivery,” she says. “As I have completed my master’s degree in Healthcare Informatics and a second Master’s degree in Business Administration, I believe I am well-qualified to transform this field.”

Akinteye’s goal is to lead cross-functional teams in implementing data-driven strategies that optimize healthcare operations through technology and creating an integrated framework that merges predictive modeling for disaster preparedness with environmental health initiatives to enhance resilience in vulnerable communities. She envisions collaboration with healthcare institutions, governmental bodies, and industry leaders to foster the adoption of cutting-edge technologies, improve data interoperability, and create a seamless and patient-centric healthcare ecosystem. Her commitment to quantifiable achievements and contributions to research and publications is a testament to her dedication to making a lasting impact in the Healthcare Informatics industry.

“Success, to me, is more than just accomplishing a goal,” she says. “It also involves a process of ongoing learning, adjusting to difficulties, and retaining the willpower to face problems head-on and in the end, overcoming challenges and experiencing a total evolution in the path of achieving one’s goal.”

As healthcare becomes increasingly reliant on technology, Gbemisola Elizabeth Akinteye has the multi-disciplined background and determination to make a difference. She hopes to bridge the gap between technology and patient care with her unique blend of skills and unwavering determination.

“In this industry, you need an entrepreneurial spirit,” she says. “That means having the capacity to transform an original idea into a practical and significant reality, proffering solutions and value that answers common and uncommon problems and in a better way.”

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Learn more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbemisola-akinteye-b029b592/