Emirates Health Services (EHS), in collaboration with SAS, a global leader in analytics, successfully concluded the EHS Innovation Hackathon. The three-day event showcased the transformative potential of analytics in reshaping the UAE’s healthcare landscape, in alignment with the “We the UAE 2031” vision to enhance the efficiency and quality of healthcare delivery.
The hackathon brought together experts and multidisciplinary teams from healthcare institutions to create innovative, data-driven solutions for real-life challenges using real-world datasets. EHS provided all necessary tools and training on the SAS Viya platform, a unified system employed by it to facilitate innovation in healthcare.
“The use cases presented during the hackathon align closely with the “We the UAE 2031” vision, focusing on delivering best-in-class healthcare services, improving operational efficiency, and driving cost-effective solutions to benefit all UAE citizens and residents,” said Dr. Sara Ali Alshaya, Director of the Data and Statistics Department at EHS. She further added that “Innovative hackathons like this are a testament to EHS’ commitment to leveraging innovation and technology to elevate healthcare standards in the UAE”
From reducing admission times in hospital emergency departments to optimizing bed allocation and predicting length of stay, participants used advanced analytics to enhance patient outcomes and improve the overall healthcare experience.
Michel Ghorayeb, Managing Director of SAS UAE, stated: “The outcomes of this hackathon highlight the significant and transformative role analytics and AI can play in improving citizens’ well-being. By leveraging advanced technologies, health systems have the opportunity to reshape the future of healthcare in the UAE, striving toward healthier and more resilient communities.”
The top three teams presented projects that have the potential to significantly impact healthcare delivery in the UAE:
- Team Harmony – Emergency Department Utilization
- Team PHOENIX – Optimizing Emergency Department Operations for Enhanced Patient Care
- Team Insights – Exploring the Factors Behind Patient Readmissions in EHS Hospitals