Unlock the future of healthcare data management. Learn about five issues plaguing the industry today and how advanced solutions can drive efficiency and innovation in delivering quality care.
A standardized, flexible, and cloud-based healthcare data platform is essential in the fast-growing healthcare sector. With more abundant and complex data, implementing a comprehensive platform that optimizes healthcare data capture, analysis, and reporting enables health systems to meet their strategic goals.
This is especially critical as the industry moves toward value-based care, aiming to optimize operational and financial performance amid narrow profit margins. The increased prevalence of chronic diseases and changing patient expectations for diverse services and delivery methods also require innovative approaches to delivering first-rate care.
To address these challenges and ensure smooth operations, strong finances, and improved healthcare delivery, today's leaders require high-quality metrics made possible through integrated, intelligent, extensible, and accessible data and analytics solutions. Better yet, they need a data ecosystem encompassing tools that enhance ROI and drive measurable clinical improvements.
Here are five compelling reasons to support the adoption of modern data ecosystems.
Modern data platforms are expected to safeguard sensitive data like protected health information (PHI) through encryption techniques that defy reverse engineering, preventing unauthorized users from gaining access to the data. It transforms raw healthcare data, where the value extracted is purely analytical and devoid of identifiable traces.
This is a given, but what happens when health systems begin incorporating newer solutions, like augmented intelligence and generative AI, into the ecosystem? A modern platform must be able to scale, harnessing the best of these technologies to produce usable and clean data without any compromises or security hiccups.
At a time when privacy breaches and security threats loom large, the role of a data platform as a guardian of information integrity is crucial. Thankfully, a modern data platform can unlock valuable insights and protect the sanctity of personal healthcare data through an intricate application of data science techniques.
In this regard, Health Catalyst IgniteTM Data and Analytics is built for healthcare. The ecosystem leverages a robust set of security measures to ensure information security and compliance. Its capabilities adhere to strict data governance policies to maintain the integrity and confidentiality of healthcare information and, in doing so, has earned the prestigious HITRUST Assurance Program’s risk-based, two-year certification for information security.
Unlike traditional systems that require manual intervention at every step of healthcare data management processes, newer data platforms improve this process by automating tasks and optimizing workflows. This provides faster and more accurate management of diverse and vast data sources without compromising quality or reliability.
The value also lies in a platform's ability to dynamically scale its computing power based on demand. This gives healthcare analysts the flexibility to handle large volumes of data and other critical information without delays or bottlenecks. This not only improves overall performance but also reduces unnecessary costs associated with maintaining fixed computing capabilities.
With advanced features and capabilities, modern data platforms can transform how organizations manage data, making the entire process more streamlined and cost-effective.
A contemporary ecosystem should be purposefully built to combine various datasets and enable stakeholders to pose questions and derive timely, relevant, evidence-rich answers from the data. In that vein, healthcare organizations need tailored data and analytics solutions that meet the specific requirements of end users, similar to how products are created for a particular use.
Instead of merely converting hierarchical data into relational formats, the focus should shift towards building analytical frameworks and models that can handle data at different stages, specific applications, and various healthcare use cases.
Flattening hierarchical data may seem like an appealing shortcut in the quest for simplicity, but it strips data of the layers and relationships that inform business intelligence and strategy. By embracing hierarchical structures and integrating contemporary DevOps and version control, health systems can focus on the depth of their data instead of its breadth, facilitating richer analysis.
As health systems become more interconnected through interoperability efforts, a modern data ecosystem will best facilitate data sharing across institutions and databases. The resulting tapestry of usable healthcare data will foster collaboration, transparency, and effective decision-making processes.
A user-friendly data platform is not just a convenience but necessary in today's data-driven healthcare system. With various users accessing and utilizing data products, the interface should feel intuitive and native to everyone. All team members, from clinical providers to data engineers to financial analysts, should be able to easily navigate complex datasets and derive actionable insights.
Furthermore, the ability for any user to quickly generate customized dashboards can facilitate collaboration across different teams within an organization. By offering a range of functionalities, such as scheduling and SQL query integration, modern data platforms empower users to harness the full potential of their data assets without requiring expert programming knowledge.
This speaks to the need to democratize data in the healthcare environment so that users of all backgrounds can access relevant and timely information to arrive at meaningful analytical insights when and where they need it.
Leaders in the healthcare space are increasingly turning to modern, cloud-based tech stacks, including Augmented Intelligence (AI), to manage healthcare data and operations. While some health systems still depend on outmoded methods of managing healthcare data–hampered by limited interoperability, data siloes, and legacy software systems–there is a growing recognition of the need to modernize and adopt more advanced technologies and practices.
The industry is rich with technologies, from electronic health records and patient scheduling software to telemedicine platforms and diagnostic imaging systems, which makes traditional methods of reporting and managing this deluge of information insufficient.
Cloud-based technologies offer the agility to handle large volumes of data while ensuring seamless integration with other applications, such as AI, enabling healthcare staff and executives to carry out their core functions and leverage advanced analytic processes to extract valuable insights from often disparate datasets.
To that end, Ignite harnesses Healthcare.AI™ to streamline operations, producing faster insights through data mining and natural language processing and reducing the burden of routine data handling duties.
AI algorithms and machine learning automate processes like data entry, appointment scheduling, and billing tasks, allowing medical staff to focus more on delivering care to patients and less on administrative responsibilities. Moreover, with AI as an embedded business intelligence application, administrators can make more accurate and timely resource and fiscal decisions.
Adopting a modern, cloud-based data ecosystem streamlines operations and paves the way for scaling innovative solutions that can revolutionize clinical improvement, measures, registries, and revenue. In turn, health systems remain competitive, staying ahead of evolving trends and regulations while offering patients a more personalized and dynamic healthcare experience.
In conclusion, adopting a standardized, flexible, and cloud-based data platform is paramount in the healthcare industry’s shift toward value-based care and to meet evolving economic needs.
With intelligent features and automation capabilities, modern data platforms streamline healthcare data management processes and empower organizations to make informed decisions based on high-quality metrics.
Don’t wait for tomorrow to revolutionize your healthcare data management – take action today and transform your operations with our cutting-edge, secure, and adaptable data ecosystem. Learn more.