Modern data platforms adoption by healthcare organizations is crucial for improving efficiency and patient care.
In today's fast-paced digital world, the need for modern data platforms in healthcare organizations is more crucial than ever. This article is part of HealthTech's MonITor blog series, encouraging discussion on Twitter using the hashtag #WellnessIT.
Healthcare organizations are increasingly recognising the importance of modern data platforms to remain agile and meet the growing demands of patients. The best practice now is to leverage what the EHR vendor provides and move towards overall modernization.
A modern data platform for healthcare organizations involves modular modern technologies, hybrid cloud or cloud capabilities, data governance, and DataOps. The key components of this platform are interconnected, each playing a vital role in enabling efficient, secure, and scalable healthcare services.
1. Data Integration Layer: This layer integrates data from multiple sources such as Electronic Health Records (EHRs), lab systems, imaging apps, and billing systems into a unified "single source of truth." Secure and consistent data exchange across disparate systems is achieved through standards like HL7, FHIR, CDA, and DICOM.
2. Cloud-Native Infrastructure: By utilising scalable, flexible cloud services, healthcare organizations can support large data volumes, disaster recovery, high availability, and collaboration across facilities. Cloud computing significantly reduces infrastructure costs and enables rapid scale-up and innovation.
3. Application Logic and Analytics Layer: This layer incorporates workflow engines, AI-driven modules, and advanced data analytics for clinical decision support. AI and machine learning help in early disease detection, personalized treatments, and operational efficiency.
4. User Interface Layer: This layer comprises patient portals and clinician dashboards that facilitate scheduling, registration, real-time data access, virtual visits, and remote patient monitoring devices. These interfaces improve accessibility and care delivery.
5. Security and Compliance Layer: This layer ensures robust identity management with multifactor authentication, audit logging, and end-to-end encryption to protect patient data and maintain compliance with healthcare regulations.
6. Common Data Lake and Modular Scalable Architecture: Platforms like IQVIA Connected Healthcare Platform emphasise a modular and scalable design, which uses a common data lake to support evolving healthcare needs, enabling efficient resource management and long-term sustainability.
The benefits of a modern data platform for healthcare organizations are manifold. It improves patient outcomes by providing clinicians with a comprehensive view of patient history, enabling more accurate diagnoses and coordinated care across departments. It also contributes to operational efficiency and cost reduction through automation, data-driven resource planning, and elimination of redundant services.
Moreover, modern data platforms offer scalability and adaptability, allowing healthcare systems to easily adapt to new technologies and changing demands without costly overhauls. They also prioritise security and regulatory compliance, protecting sensitive patient information and ensuring compliance with healthcare privacy laws.
Furthermore, data platforms enable real-world evidence generation and advanced analytics, contributing to clinical research and continuous improvement in care delivery. They can help break down silos and open insights across departments in a healthcare organization.
In conclusion, a modern healthcare data platform integrates diverse data sources via interoperable standards, powered by cloud infrastructure, enhanced with AI analytics, and layered with strong security—all wrapped in user-friendly interfaces. This comprehensive approach is crucial to delivering better patient care, ensuring operational excellence, and maintaining resilience in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.
Healthcare organizations should gauge their status on cloud adoption before modernizing their data platform. Leveraging cloud capabilities for an EHR system or financial data can facilitate the adoption of a modern data platform. The decision to transition to a modern data platform can be guided by internal and external feedback.
As the demand for data-driven insights and action in healthcare continues to grow, it is essential for healthcare organizations to embrace modern data platforms to ensure their long-term success. Let's continue the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #WellnessIT.
- Medical-conditions can be better managed with the use of modern data platforms, as they provide clinicians with a comprehensive view of a patient's history, enabling more accurate diagnoses and coordinated care across departments.
- Science can be advanced with the use of modern data platforms in healthcare, as they enable real-world evidence generation, data-driven resource planning, and continuous improvement in care delivery, leveraging technologies like cloud computing, DataOps, and AI analytics.
