The Importance of Healthcare Data Management

by Innovit Corporate Affairs | May 28, 2018 | Blog

Healthcare data management is an essential part of working in the industry.

You’re not only legally obligated to manage patient healthcare. Patients’ health outcomes often depend on your ability translate, store, and transmit records properly.

Managing healthcare data is a challenge, but everyone can do more to be up to the task.

What Is Healthcare Data Management?

Healthcare data management refers to the following processes:

  • pulling
  • storing
  • securing
  • analyzing

The way data is managed is integral to the way a healthcare organization is run. It helps providers communicate with each other and allows organizations to run more smoothly. More importantly, it improves the health outcomes for patients in the system.

Healthcare data management is governed by law, namely HIPAA. Federal law mandates that all providers and organizations use secure practices when creating, storing, securing, and analyzing their data. The primary concern of the law is that of protecting patient privacy.

Data Management Is Valuable

Healthcare data management is on the fringes of a broader trend taking over all kinds of commerce: big data.

Big data refers to masses of data stored and analyzed to make the smartest decisions at the fastest pace. Healthcare hasn’t yet taken on big data in part because it’s not ready. Currently, data is scattered across thousands of providers, none of which are connected, and that all use different systems.

However, if and when healthcare does take on big data, it can generate over $300 billion annually. The money will come from better outcomes, enhanced satisfaction, and improved revenue practices.

Before the healthcare industry can enjoy the benefits of big data, it needs to tackle healthcare data management, which involves using best practices to address the challenges the industry faces.

Challenges in Healthcare Data Management

Although it’s in every organization’s interest to protect their patients and their patients’ data, data management doesn’t come without its challenges.

The biggest challenge you’ll face is maintaining your HIPAA compliance. HIPAA compliance isn’t just for your organization – it also impacts the businesses you work with. In fact, HIPAA law makes your organization responsible for the failures of your business partners.

It’s important to do several things to meet these challenges:

1. Use a Strategy from the Start

Data management should begin with a strategy first before using the strategy to find software. It’s important to focus not on capturing every piece of data available and ensure there’s process for finding the right data.

2. Employ a Centralized Repository

Health data insights are hard to see when you’re looking for data in five different places. A centralized repository removes data silos by putting all relevant information in one place and allowing for better data insights.

3. Focus on Quality Data

It’s not enough to have data: the data must also be accurate. At present, one of the most significant challenges healthcare faces is that there’s little oversight in transforming medical records into accurate data.

How Will You Meet the Challenge?

Healthcare data management isn’t simple, but the solutions available can take your organization to the next level by removing silos and focusing on what patients need most.

Innovit helps healthcare organizations meet their potential and serve their patients with data management solutions. Are you ready to make a difference?

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