Healthc Inform Res.  2017 Oct;23(4):349-354. 10.4258/hir.2017.23.4.349.

Interactive Visualization of Healthcare Data Using Tableau

• Ko I
• Chang H

• KMID: 2396429
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4258/hir.2017.23.4.349

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Big data analysis is receiving increasing attention in many industries, including healthcare. Visualization plays an important role not only in intuitively showing the results of data analysis but also in the whole process of collecting, cleaning, analyzing, and sharing data. This paper presents a procedure for the interactive visualization and analysis of healthcare data using Tableau as a business intelligence tool.
METHODS
Starting with installation of the Tableau Desktop Personal version 10.3, this paper describes the process of understanding and visualizing healthcare data using an example. The example data of colon cancer patients were obtained from health insurance claims in years 2012 and 2013, provided by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service.
RESULTS
To explore the visualization of healthcare data using Tableau for beginners, this paper describes the creation of a simple view for the average length of stay of colon cancer patients. Since Tableau provides various visualizations and customizations, the level of analysis can be increased with small multiples, view filtering, mark cards, and Tableau charts.
CONCLUSIONS
Tableau is a software that can help users explore and understand their data by creating interactive visualizations. The software has the advantages that it can be used in conjunction with almost any database, and it is easy to use by dragging and dropping to create an interactive visualization expressing the desired format.

Keyword

Data Display; Statistics as Topic; Information Storage and Retrieval; Artificial Intelligence

MeSH Terms

Artificial Intelligence
Colonic Neoplasms
Commerce
Data Display
Delivery of Health Care*
Humans
Information Storage and Retrieval
Insurance, Health
Intelligence
Length of Stay
Statistics as Topic

Figure

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  Figure 1 Downloading a trial of Tableau Desktop (https://www.tableau.com/products/desktop/download).

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  Figure 2 Interface of workspace in Tableau Desktop.

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  Figure 3 Getting started with a basic view.

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  Figure 4 Example of filtering views and using mark cards.

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  Figure 5 Example of a Tableau chart, Treemap.

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