Data sharing in the healthcare industry is important as it has several benefits. Healthcare providers, including doctors and nurses, will have a better understanding of the history of their patients, thus ensuring proper care and treatment. It also saves time and money as patients don’t have to undergo and pay for tests they have already completed. Healthcare facilities will also be able to efficiently take care of the administrative side of the business, including admission, payment, and billing. Unfortunately, the healthcare industry still struggles when it comes to data sharing. We listed some of the challenges both clinicians and healthcare facilities experience in this area and how to solve them.
Data safety
Patient data is confidential, which is why some healthcare organizations want to ensure security. But they are reluctant to use database management applications, thinking they are not highly secure. However, cloud-based data management applications are more secure than ever. Developers understand that data is crucial and private, so they take precautionary measures to strengthen their system’s security.
Accessibility
Healthcare providers may need to access or share vital data for treating patients. They may not be able to do it right away if the information is saved in their clinic or home, and they are not in those places. Data saved in the cloud-based software is accessible anywhere, as long as they have an internet connection. The healthcare software development provider may even create a mobile app so they can still use their smartphones even if they don’t bring their laptops.
Timeliness
Every second counts in emergencies and the timeliness of accessing and sharing data could mean life or death. For example, if a patient is rushed to an emergency room and their physician is not there, the ER doctor may take over. The patient’s record shared by their physician would allow the ER doctor to determine their history, which saves time on conducting interviews and tests, thus proceeding to perform the right step to save him. A reliable cloud-based healthcare system makes this possible, thus increasing the chance of saving patients.
Interoperability
Clinicians and healthcare facilities may have different systems that make sharing of information challenging and time-consuming. Moreover, since the data format varies, it may create confusion and inaccuracy. For example, procedures and medicines might be covered by the patient’s insurance. However, it may take more time and effort to review if one department’s data is incompatible with the other. A solution to this is a system that works seamlessly among the users regardless of their departments. As a result, data will be more useful, and work will be quicker, more efficient, and more accurate.
Redundancy
Another problem with data sharing in the healthcare industry is redundancy. Since records are saved in different places, there may be several of them for the same patients, making it difficult to determine which is the most recently updated. There should be one place to save and update patients’ records, and it’s possible with the use of database management software.
Clinicians and healthcare facilities could improve the data sharing process through these tips for convenient and timely access to records, which is vital in caring for patients.