Algorithm Contest Aims To Predict Health Problems

Posted by Soulskill on Friday February 4, 2011 @10:37AM from the math-of-health dept.

databuff writes "The April 4 launch of the $3 million Heritage Health Prize has been announced by the Heritage Provider Network, a network of doctors. The competition challenges data hackers to build algorithms that predict who will go to the hospital in the next year, so that preventative action can be taken. An algorithm might find that somebody with diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol is a 90 per cent risk for hospitalization. Knowing this, it might be cheaper for an HMO to enroll them in an exercise program now rather than pay the likely hospital bill. The competition takes the same approach as the $1 million Netflix Prize, but solves a far more significant problem."

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Obama Care by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-04 10:50 · Score: 0, Troll

Dear Obama Health Care Customer,
We have identified you as a high risk patient. We have taken the liberty of enrolling you in an exercise program which will start immediately. Please read the included forms and documentation pertaining to your health. If you decide to not follow this program then you can expect an increase in your personal health tax.
Thank you for your patronage.