Research Centered on Patients Depends on Innovative Data Management Solutions

With the ACA recently upheld by the Supreme Court, healthcare keeps making the news in many sectors. Technology is not exempt. "Building an Electronic Clinical Data Infrastructure to Improve Patient Outcomes" explains how the new norm of keeping electronic records is facilitating the push for better healthcare.

A recent electronic data methods forum spoke of the great potential inherent in using data gathered for patient care for patient-centered outcomes research. The large volumes of patients' information in these systems is vital to produce the large samples that are needed to study rare diseases and adverse medication effects.

The article discusses the resistance to open data:

Despite this potential, however, numerous barriers to data sharing were discussed, ranging from proprietary concerns deriving from a competitive business environment to patient privacy and confidentiality. In particular, HIPAA Privacy Rule and Common rule requirements often lead to de-identification approaches that makes data less useful. In some cases, however, hospital lawyers and IRBs that are unsure of alternative approaches and what is permissible may be acting more conservative than the regulations actually demand…

Innovative technologies that will be needed in the medical industry stat. Measures for data security and integrity must be inherent within a comprehensive data management solution that allows information to become visible to all who need it.

Megan Feil, July 23, 2012