Data is collected everywhere, from what we click online to whether we run a red light to how many steps we take each day. There is power in data. When leveraged effectively, data reveal patterns, insights, behaviors, and other potentially actionable intelligence.
It stands to reason that data would be indispensable in a healthcare setting. The premise is simple: More data can lead to more accurate diagnoses, better treatment plans, improved office or hospital visits, and other enhancements.
But all too often, more data is just “more.” Too much of it from too many sources can paralyze an organization. Data entry errors, obsolete performance measurements, or inconsistencies between different data sources can lead to incorrect decisions, diagnoses, or treatment plans. Poor data quality can also undermine the reliability of clinical decision support systems and other data-driven tools. Even attempting to integrate data often scattered across various systems and platforms, including electronic health records (EHRs), can be complex and prone to error.