The ultimate goal of health organizations implementing enterprise data management isn’t a passing fad or one-upping their competitors. There are real organizational needs forcing the charge.
The demand to make data usable and accessible across organizations continues to increase. Decision-makers must be able to put their data to work in steering the organization’s direction. This is only achievable when data is properly standardized and translated into a usable format.
Unfortunately, this growing need for better data access and management is giving rise to new storage and security concerns.
How can a healthcare organization foster better data management without sacrificing security and privacy?
What Is Enterprise Data Management?
Before we can explore potential options for enterprise data management, it helps to define what and how data is used across the enterprise.
There are two core types of data that are shared between business units: identifying data (patient names, providers, and location-related information) and reference data (insurance codes, prescription information, etc.).
Enterprise data management requires a process that shares this core data across various IT systems as one consistent point of reference. That is, each business unit who is authorized to access the data can do so in the same way that other business units access the same information.
By unifying data across the organization, health systems can create a holistic view of patients’ needs and experience using a single system.
Why Better Data Management Techniques Are Needed
There are three key factors leading the push for better data management techniques:
The first is the complication presented by mergers and acquisitions. When an M&A occurs, both parties typically must merge their data into a single, unified system in order for it to be usable across the organization.
The second is how health information exchanges (HIEs) occur. In order to successfully transmit data between locations and organizations, systems must be able to translate the data it receives.
And finally, accountable care organizations (ACOs) must be able to relate payer information with health information. Typically, these are two very different systems, but ensuring consistent master data can help to reduce errors associated with each component.
These factors, combined with the benefits that better data organization promises, only add to the pressure to adopt a streamlined approach to enterprise data management.
Data is largely responsible for delivering a timely experience for patients and providers. Having accurate, consistent data across the enterprise helps to streamline daily operations. But most importantly, a data-driven decision-making strategy hinges on having the most accurate, up-to-date data available. Without it, organizational decisions are made based on guesswork or inaccuracies, and your entire healthcare system may suffer as a result.
How Lifepoint is Improving How Healthcare Organizations Manage Data
We’re surfing on a wave of data that refuses to crest. As more and more data is collected in your healthcare organization, getting ahead of the swell will be your only option to feasibly and responsibly manage your growing database.
As a leader in healthcare technology, Lifepoint is giving organizations a better way to achieve enterprise data management. Our solutions were tailored to address interoperability needs throughout the enterprise to provide a seamless, secure exchange of data.
Contact Lifepoint today for a free demo or to learn more about enterprise data solutions.