How Healthcare Providers Can Manage Growing Amounts of Data
The amount of data managed and stored by healthcare systems is growing exponentially. In 2013, for example, data generated by global healthcare totaled about 153 exabytes, while in 2020, the total reached around 2,314 exabytes.
Why is there so much more data to manage in healthcare these days? One reason is that medical equipment technology improves constantly. An MRI scanner, for example, produces 20,000 images instead of the 2,000 images it once created. High-resolution, 3D data has brought vast improvements to healthcare, allowing workers to read clearer, more in-depth information than ever before. Major health outbreaks and the growth of telemedicine have also played a role in the amount of data healthcare providers generate and manage.
Recognize the Challenge of Data Storage
While capturing more data is a positive move for both patients and healthcare workers, storing large amounts of information is challenging. The type of data you collect includes:
• Research
• Treatment
• Outcomes
• Government reporting
• Payment
It is preferred and sometimes necessary to store data for the long term. Legal requirements may mandate data storage in some cases, while in others, healthcare providers use data for analysis and research.With all this data to store, providers need to implement a tech software management strategy that can reduce processing and storage costs while allowing professionals easy access to the information.
Use and Store Accurate Information
Accuracy with patient records and information has always been critical in healthcare. Errors in healthcare records can lead to serious consequences for the patient through incorrect treatment or diagnoses. On the other hand, accurate data can improve the efficiency of treatment and result in higher patient satisfaction.
With these ramifications in mind, staff members in charge of data entry can complete training programs to develop accuracy. Data verification tools can also play a vital role in improving accuracy and prevent errors and duplications in patient records and billing codes.
Create a Central Location for Data
Many different departments access and use healthcare data within a practice. If a provider has separate data storage systems for each department, it increases the likelihood of errors or duplication. A more efficient way to handle data is to use a central system to collect, sort and analyze information as it is stored. All departments can work with and update the same records, reducing data fragmentation and increasing transparency.
A comprehensive data storage system will track:
• Where data originates
• What data is collected
• How information will be used
• Who has access
It’s also crucial that the system is user-friendly, allowing staff members on all platforms to use data in a meaningful way without struggling to access or interpret the information they need.
Develop a Data Governance Policy
Managing the vast amounts of data a healthcare system uses can start with a data governance policy, also known as an information governance policy. It is a set of guidelines to ensure you use your practice’s data consistently and adequately. It also declares who is responsible for various segments of information and specifies management procedures.
Your data governance policy may need to change with technology and best practices. Keep in mind that it isn’t written in stone. Review your policy regularly so that you can update procedures as needed.
A solid data governance policy helps you determine what data you need. In this respect, it can help you eliminate unnecessary information, saving you the time and resources needed to manage data you don’t use. It can also outline how data is accessed, outlining methods for various users. When staff knows how to get to the information they need, it reduces wasted time.
Most major industries create, manage and store data, and the amounts increase each year. However, the volume of data the healthcare sector produces is growing much faster than other industries. It’s imperative that healthcare providers find efficient ways to handle the information they store so that patients and providers can access the data they need for optimal patient care.
