Positive shifts in healthcare and hospitality

Episode summary

In this episode we are joined by Jessica Spira, Sector Head of Healthcare and Hospitality at RMB. Jessica has been with RMB for almost 20 years and has seen first-hand the monumental shift in the use of data. This has been made possible by establishing the correct systems and processes, allowing the Group to change the way in which they approach their clients. By having this data at their disposal enables them to add proper value across the board.

With regards to the healthcare system, there is a strategy across all hospitals to become more digitally-abled, not necessarily in data analytics as such, but a precursor to it. This will allow for more business efficiencies, such as analysing patient outcomes from various drug treatments and building better patient profiles and predictive models to anticipate, diagnose and treat diseases. Data has been powerful during the pandemic in terms of how rapidly treatment protocols have changed and adapted, and also how they have been adopted globally. Data is a massive underlying driver and at this stage of the COVID-19 pandemic is also being used as a crucial tool to determine and evaluate the efficacy of vaccines.

The FirstRand Group is incredibly proud of their initiative SPIRE — a relief fund established in March this year at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to help uplift and support the public healthcare system. Their focus began in the Western Cape where the first spike was identified. This was thanks to the use of data, using both internal and external epidemiological models that were able to determine and predict where the virus was travelling. They were then able to focus their efforts in other areas of the country using these effective models as guidance.

On a personal note, having two children herself, Jessica is able to see just how proficient they already are in the digital world. She believes that STEM education has now become a critical part of any curricular and should be taught in all schools — paving the way for the future and ever-advancing ways of working.