3 Advantages of Synchronizing and Integrating Data in Healthcare

Digitization is supposed to optimize everyday tasks and make our lives easier. But is it always the case? Unfortunately not. With different accounts, databases and applications, it is easy to become overwhelmed and make mistakes, making technology counterproductive.

This matter is particularly urgent in healthcare, where the stakes are high. Hospitals and clinics present extremely complex and dynamic environments. They rely on a plethora of technologies and software setups to ensure smooth operation. Through thousands of micro-processes, individuals are required to collaborate efficiently, rapidly and, most important, without errors that could have fatal consequences.

Investing in infrastructure doesn’t do the trick anymore. Greater efficiency can be achieved only if all systems and software tools are completely in harmony: integrated and synchronized. This way, medical institutions can become fully competent, while preparing themselves for the adoption of emerging technologies to enter a new era of healthcare.

Data Gathering: Clarity

Ambiguity creates confusion in healthcare. It can arise from large institutional acquisitions or when implementing new software. On a smaller scale, calendar merges, duplicate information and chaotic contact databases also create ambiguity that significantly hamper workflows.

Healthcare professionals deal with huge chunks of data. Apart from internal administrative processes, they manage patient medical history, insurance documentations, financials, medications and electronic health records (EHRs). Updating and keeping track of various accounts and databases without a unified approach can become a nightmare. Matters get even worse if an institution still runs on legacy computer systems. Bugs, glitches and invalid route generate many problems.

Proper integration and synchronization can take the frustration away. Seeing all data in one place and being able to control it with a few clicks brings order and timeliness. Software optimization also adds a layer of security, which is a fundamental aspect when handling healthcare data. Breaches, hacking and ransomware incidents, together with regulations like HIPAA, having clear software solutions to store and protect sensitive information is crucial.

Data Analysis: Optimization

The clarity achieved by software optimization provides an opportunity for smarter data collection and management. Nowadays, digital disruption grants us access to an unprecedented amount of information. In fact, the volume of data in healthcare is growing by 48% annually. Navigating this complexity is challenging. There is no doubt that the hospitals that will be able to analyze and use it efficiently are going to have a major strategic advantage.

Embracing big data in healthcare has a lot of positive impacts. Administrative workers have more inputs to execute informed strategic planning. For example, they can synchronize storage analytics with their calendar to be alerted when new medications need to be supplied. Doctors can optimize their resource utilization and the execution of key care-delivery processes. They can comfortably program surgery room or machine availability or schedule shifts without disrupting operations. Patients can experience these improvements in various ways: a smoother admittance and discharge processes, better engagement with healthcare providers or even feedback opportunities.

Building on the Data: The Future

How about the bigger picture? Proper data synchronization and integration is an investment in the future. It is both the chance to avoid potential problems and an open promise to other technologies and modern cloud solutions.

Therefore, it serves as a direct preparation of all the internal processes for the fourth industrial revolution. Healthcare providers can’t turn a blind eye toward this reality. After all, artificial intelligence, machine learning the Internet of Things, blockchain and other emerging technologies are the future of the industry. And the time to make bold is now: Interconnected “smart hospitals” are likely to be a reality in 2020.

Implementing advanced technologies and getting people to use them correctly is complicated. Apart from general inefficiency and ambiguity, there is potential for mismanagement, resource waste, information leak and loss or even interpersonal conflicts. Software optimization often represents a new lease of life. For greater clarity and better data collection, healthcare providers shouldn’t hesitate to step into the future with solutions to integrate and synchronize their data.

A serial entrepreneur with over 20 years in IT, Thomas Berndorfer has extensive experience in relieving health organizations from the pain of integration, synchronization and IT processes. He is CEO of Connecting Software.Navigate the digital transformation with confidence. Register for our newsletter.

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