Data Visualization

Blog of the Data Visualization & Communication Course at OSB-AUB

“This is my favorite part about analytics: Taking boring flat data and bringing it to life through visualization” John Tukey

Unseen Patients: What Hides Behind the Waiting Rooms

Unseen Patients: What Hides Behind the Waiting Rooms

by | Nov 28, 2025 | Uncategorized

Beyond the Waiting Room: Revealing “Invisible” Patients of an NGO

By: Nivine Manasfi, Wissam El Sabeh, Yasmina El Dirani, Hussein Charafeddine, and Perla Abou Rjeily

 

In humanitarian aid, success is often measured by volume. For the Imam Sadr Foundation (ISF), 31,430 patient visits over two years suggested a thriving system. However, our deep-dive analysis revealed that aggregate numbers were hiding a “silent crisis” of missing patients.

To understand why these groups were missing, we didn’t just look at the records—we asked the community. Here is how our impact survey validated the data and shaped our solutions.

1. The Gender Gap: It’s About Work, Not Health

Data showed a stark imbalance: 67% of patients were female, while only 33% were male. Our survey revealed the structural cause:

  • 70% of patients admitted to missing medical visits specifically due to work or school commitments.

  • 80% confirmed that extending clinic opening hours would directly facilitate their access to care.

The Fix: We proposed launching “Evening Clinics” (5 PM – 8 PM) to capture the working demographic that the current schedule excludes.

2. The Mental Health Stigma

Despite high trauma levels in the region, Syrian refugees accounted for near-zero mental health visits. The survey confirmed that stigma is the primary barrier:

  • 62% of patients cited “privacy and secrecy” as the main reason they avoid seeking mental health support.

  • Integrating mental health screenings into general medical visits was the 3rd highest requested service improvement.

The Fix: By integrating mental health checks into standard intake forms, clinics can bypass the “psychotherapy” label that scares patients away.

3. Neglecting Prevention

Preventive services (like vaccination and dental) made up less than 1% of total visits. However, the survey proved this isn’t due to a lack of interest:

  • ~85% of patients confirmed a moderate to high need for proactive health services.

The Fix: The demand exists. We recommended strengthening the preventive infrastructure and using doctors, rather than just nurses, to drive awareness during standard consults.

Conclusion

Analyzing the dataset turned “records” into insights, but the survey turned that insights into action. By shifting our focus from volume of visits to equity, we proved that true healthcare success isn’t just about how many people you serve—it’s about ensuring no one is left invisible.

The 70-Billion Dollar Illusion: How Lebanon’s Financial Lifeline Turned into a Noose

by | Nov 22, 2025 | Visualization

 

The Great Illusion (2002–2017)

For years, Lebanon appeared to be defying gravity. As we rebuilt from the civil war, our external debt climbed steadily, reaching over $70 billion. But look closely at the blue line in the chart below.

 


Our reserves (the blue line) seemed to keep pace with our debt (the red line). This created a sense of security; for every dollar we owed, we seemed to have a dollar in the vault. But this correlation was an illusion. The reserves weren’t built on productivity; they were built on the very debt we were accumulating. We were borrowing to pay the interest on what we had already borrowed.

 

The Turning Point (2018–2019)

The story takes a dark turn in 2018. Notice the divergence in the first chart: Debt continued its upward march, hitting nearly $80 billion, while reserves began a steep decline. The “leakage” had begun. Money was flowing out faster than it could come in.

But where was the money coming from, and why did it stop?

The Tap Runs Dry

The bar chart below reveals the culprits behind the crash. For nearly a decade, commercial banks (the green bars) were the engines of this debt machine, pouring billions into the system.

Then came the shock. In 2019, the green bars didn’t just shrink—they flipped. Commercial bank lending turned negative, representing a massive contraction and capital flight. At the same time, the bond market (orange bars), which had been a steady source of cash, flatlined.

Conclusion

The data tells a tragic 3-minute story: A decade of debt-fueled growth created a fragile bubble. When the banks pulled the plug in 2019, the illusion shattered, leaving a nation with $70 billion in debt and a reserve tank running on empty. As we look to the future, any recovery plan must start by acknowledging these red and green bars—the undeniable accounting of a system that consumed itself.