As healthcare IT leaders, we find ourselves leading discussions about the future, including predictions for the industry. The past few years were the start of an unprecedented era across healthcare, and as a result, it has caused the industry to turn to technology to provide better overall care. At the forefront of technology usage has been a focus on data management, where technological advancements and evolving healthcare demands converge. The future of data management in healthcare will be defined by our ability to streamline processes for cost efficiency, enhance patient care, and fortify patient safety through robust security and compliance measures.
Let’s take a look at three areas of focus when we think about streaming data: cost, care and compliance.
Addressing the Cost Concerns
Maintaining a bloated portfolio of EHR and ERP applications can create a hefty price tag for many healthcare organizations. There is always pressure to reduce costs across a healthcare organization, but a big area of focus is how to better manage the vast amounts of data generated daily across various applications in a cost-effective way.
According to a recent survey by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), 63% of healthcare organizations consider cost reduction a top priority in their IT strategies.
To address these concerns, healthcare providers are turning to innovative data management solutions to help with costs. Firms that specialize in data management and help organizations migrate and archive patient, employee and business records can ensure that organizations only are spending only what they need to. Additionally, firms that excel in data management will know how to take advantage of advanced technologies such as AI-driven analytics that can uncover patterns and insights in the data set.
By leveraging smart data management strategies, healthcare organizations can streamline their data management applications and processes, ultimately reducing costs while improving efficiency and patient care.
Enhancing Patient Care Through Streamlined Data
Efficient data management is crucial for improving patient care outcomes. However, the seamless exchange of information across disparate systems remains a significant challenge. According to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), 88% of hospitals struggle to integrate patient data from external providers into their electronic health records (EHRs).
To address this issue, healthcare IT must prioritize interoperability. Interfaces play a vital role in enabling the seamless flow of data between different healthcare applications. By fostering an ecosystem where disparate platforms are minimized and can communicate seamlessly, healthcare providers can access real-time, comprehensive patient information, leading to more informed decision-making and personalized care plans.
Providing efficient access to the full patient record, including the history from legacy applications, is vital in ultimately improving the overall quality of healthcare delivery. An active archive makes this easy.
Ensuring Compliance and Data Security
In an age of escalating cyber threats and stringent regulatory requirements, safeguarding patient data is more critical than ever, with healthcare data breaches affecting over 40 million patient records in the last year alone, according to the Protenus Breach Barometer.
Compliance with regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) necessitates that data management solutions be designed with privacy and regulatory adherence at their core.
This includes implementing comprehensive auditing and reporting capabilities to demonstrate compliance with evolving healthcare data protection standards.
In addition, the 21st Century Cures Act has played a pivotal role in promoting compliance and data security within the healthcare industry since it was passed in 2016. It emphasizes interoperability and patient access to health information—fostering a culture of accountability and incentivizing organizations to invest in robust data management infrastructure.
By prioritizing data security and compliance, healthcare organizations can mitigate risks and safeguard patient privacy, ultimately building trust and confidence in the healthcare system.
What does the future of healthcare data management look like?
The future of healthcare data management is intricately woven into the fabric of cost efficiency, patient care improvement, and industry compliance. By embracing technology and streaming data in the right ways, IT executives can navigate these uncharted waters successfully. Together, we can usher in an era where data serves as a catalyst for positive transformation.
By Tom Liddell, Harmony Health IT
