3 Things That Need to Happen Before Promise of Big Data Can Be Realized

According to the report, the following must happen before the healthcare industry can take full advantage of available data.

1. Creation of data collection standards. Much of the data collected from electronic health records and other sources is not complete or uniform enough to be useful in analysis. “The great strength of research with patient data is that — when it meets clear and robust standards for analysis — it can yield findings that are especially well targeted to treatment,” said report author Thomas E. Hubbard, vice president of policy research at NEHI, in a news release. “But routinely collected patient data rarely meets such standards.”
2. Creation of data analysis standards. Without a consensus of data standards, conclusions drawn from big data can vary and be hard to trust. New methods must be created and validated to make use of available data.
3. Removing barriers to data-sharing. Technical, financial and competitive barriers that keep providers from sharing data with one another must be removed to give all providers access to the complete data picture. Current workarounds and limited exchange exists, but it must become more robust to make the most use of available data.

“The use of voluminous patient data in creating faster, cheaper and more precise ways to deliver highly effective care to patients will be extremely limited until we solve these challenges,” said Mr. Hubbard in the news release.

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