Dr. Amit Huppert and Arnona Ziv, Directors of The Biostatistics and Biomathematics Unit and Information and Computing Unit at the Gertner Institute, are heading a team of data scientists,  in data analysis and model building of parameters pertinent to the Corona epidemic, and are providing information to the Ministry of Health to enable information-based decisions.

The Computer & Informatics Unit together with The Biostatistics & Biomathematics Unit of The Gertner Institute, have developed a national system for measuring and reporting public waiting times for physicians, as part of the national program for strengthening public medicine for The Ministry of Health.

The first focus was the development of a methodology for measuring waiting times for specialist physicians in the community. A unique method was developed to calculate waiting times, based on the available appointments that the four health funds offer to their policyholders according to geographical areas. The findings will form the basis for patient surveys and in-depth studies, with the aim of locating barriers and bottlenecks, in order to shorten waiting times in the required places.

We were honored to have special guest lecturers from Israel and abroad.The program focused on Clinical Trials and Measurement Error, but the topics varied widely in scope.