Robert Hauser, Pharm D, named vice president of clinical analytics of Boca Raton, Fla.-based Cancer Treatment Centers of America in December 2015, is in the midst of leveraging clinical data to develop a robust analytics program. Here, Dr. Hauser shares five quick thoughts on of data sharing, why interoperability is important and where wearables fit into the picture.
Editor’s note: The interview has been lightly edited for clarity and concision.
Question: What are the most commonly used methods for physicians and patients to share clinical data?
Dr. Robert Hauser: The most commonly used method used for sharing data between physicians and patients is really through face-to-face interaction while the EHR is there. Patients can use patient portals to access lab results and other clinical information, as well. But, there is an opportunity for improved communication. There has been a slow uptake for technology use in healthcare.
Q: How do you think those methods could be improved?
RH: It is a multifaceted problem. EHRs were not necessarily designed with clinical information in mind. The original systems were designed as billing tools. The clinical part of it was a secondary aspect. Physicians are now demanding these tools they are using to capture health information have more clinical utility.
Once the technology becomes more user-friendly for end-user, the data going in will be better, as will the analytics on the back end. We are getting to the point in time when patients are more comfortable sharing their health information. Standardization is going to become an issue as we generate more of this clinical data.
Q: How does interoperability play into clinical information sharing?
RH: For us to be able to create value in healthcare, interoperability is going to be key. The ability to get information from one place to another is hampered because of the lack of interoperability. Once we get through to interoperability, patient lab tests, imaging and all other EHR data will be accessed at any point within the healthcare arena. Costs will go down and quality of care will improve.
Q: How does the emergence of wearables affect information sharing?
RH: Wearables will be beneficial in terms of providing and measuring care. The critical time period for patients’ health is not when they are sitting in the physician’s office, but when they are outside of the healthcare system. In the case of diabetes, monitoring can be done on a daily, even hourly basis. The same is true of cardiac, blood pressure and weight issues.
Similar to all technology, as the devices get better and more folks [consumers] come into the marketplace, the cost will go down. The perfect example in this space is genetic testing. Five years ago it cost $10,000 to run a human genome. Today, we are down to $2,000 or less. We will see that same drop in cost.
Q: How will the exchange of clinical information change over the next few years?
RH: I believe we will see more technology-enabled sharing of data over the next several years. We are at the very early stages of this trend, but the proverbial tsunami is coming.
Interoperability will happen. The opportunity to share data will grow. The transparency between physicians and patients will be enabled with the technology we have and the technology that will be developed. Having large amounts of data for analytics to help find solutions and cures faster is something our society will be demanding.
Collecting data isn’t necessarily the challenge anymore. The data is coming from EHRs, genomic databanks, published research, wearables and more. [The challenge] is what we are going to do with all of that data once we have it. How do we move that data, analyze it and use it to move into the preventative healthcare model we want to see? If we get the analytics right, we can move toward value and quality improvement.
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