Technology is taking the world by storm. As a result, digital technology in healthcare has potentially transformed the industry, providing cheaper, fast, and more effective solutions to both health care professionals and patients. But what are the latest trends in clinical data management?
In this article, we will provide you with an extensive overview of everything you need to know about the technological changes that are shaping the health care system.
Interoperability
Earlier, the healthcare sector lacked interoperability. It was difficult for medical centers to exchange data. By 2015, the healthcare and medicine field has undergone a dramatic transformation. More than 80% of health centers in the US can now successfully transfer data to other organizations. This has not only improved convenience to both doctors and patients but also makes care a little easier.
Interoperability hosts a lot of benefits. It helps us to transform for the better. It also provides a seamless healthcare experience that both doctors and patients need before making an informed decision.
Evolution of Big Data
The rise of big data, a field that analyzes amounts of information is slowly sliding into the field of health care. With appropriate integration of big data, advanced healthcare organizations can now personalize medicines and revolutionize medical therapies to suit patients.
Digital data security in the medical field
In recent years, data privacy and security have been a primary concern. The digital era comes with plenty of problems and the rise of cybercrimes. According to reports, there have been over 15 million security breach cases recorded in last year alone. There is no doubt that technology has played a vital role; when it comes to data security. For instance, cloud computing is changing how the data is stored.
Traditionally, data storage was done on a physical server. In recent years, the industry transformed to cloud-based storage, which hosts a lot of benefits beyond expedience and value for the money. For instance, it makes sharing of data more convenient. Cloud-based storage is also more secure, which reduces the chances of data loss.
Artificial intelligence
AI and automation are among the technological trends taking a lead in the field of health care. For example, this technology can easily identify the right candidate, thus accelerating research timelines. The quality and efficiency in radiology can also be used to reduce redundant tasks, predict risks, end errors, and enhance smooth workflow.
AI and automation can enhance productivity faster and easier.
Mobile Medical Devices
Mobile medical devices are wearable gadgets installed with health care applications. For instance, diabetic patients can use these gadgets to check their glucose levels. The technology is soon expected to track blood insulin levels.
Mobile medical devices are a center of communication between patients and health care professionals. They are perfectly meant to increase patients’ safety while offering enhanced care.
Advanced rules and regulations
Rules and regulations are necessary for the healthcare industry. They apply to how medical information is analyzed, managed, and stored. For instance, the 2016 21st century cures act sought to ease data flow accelerates the approval of treatment and medical processes. These laws were executed to work on both public and private organizations.
Cloud EHRs
The demand for newer and better drugs is increasing at a higher rate. And clinical trials need to speed up, trying to find excellent ways to improve their operations.
While pharmaceutical facilities have experienced rapid development, they also face a challenge when it comes to metadata collection, storage, and management. Too many desktop applications can make clinical data pretty hard to manage. And the best way to solve this problem is using cloud EHRs.
Cloud-based services are a technology that uses the internet to store and access data. So there is no need for local storage. The technology offers a centralized system that helps in clinical trial design and development.
Here are some of the benefits of cloud EHRs to research facilities;
- Effective cost and productivity: EHRs system helps healthcare IT departments to reduce costs as it offers limited maintenance fees. It also cuts costs by hiring more personnel to manage data, thus, reducing the size of IT staff. Even better, it has zero licensing.
- Standardization of clinical data: EHRs offer standardized data collection in all stages of clinical trials.
- Accessible to patients: The EHRs also offer a chance for patients to access their healthcare information.
Electronic Clinical Outcome Assessment
ECOA offers unique functionality to ensure most data security. The technology uses self-service apps to provide critical insight into the quality of patient care.
Some of the benefits of eCOA may include;
- Increased patient compliance: Remote assessment can help increase patient compliance because doctors can remind patients to take medicine as part of their clinical study.
- Increased patient experience: The technology provides the most convenience, ensuring patients complete the dosage. It also helps to reduce follow-up sessions.
- Data diversity: The technology helps clinical participants conduct data in a large geographical area. And this will lead to a more satisfying result.
- Real-time data: With eCOA, you can collect accurate information in real-time because it encourages patients to stay on track with their medication. It also offers a direct positive effect on patient compliance. Yes, because both clinical participants and patients can interact during the clinical trial.
Challenges Associated with Healthcare Data Management
Briefly, let’s discuss some of the challenges associated with healthcare data management.
i. Accuracy
Some research has found that reporting patient data into EHRs is not completely accurate because of complex workflow and poor EHR utility. While the EHRs try to improve the quality of communication in the field of healthcare, there has been a case of discrepancies in the contexts.
ii. Storage
While many organizations are comfortable with data storage, storing big data is still a challenge. Cloud-based storage is an excellent option that many healthcare organizations have considered. Furthermore, cloud storage offers increased reliability, easier expansion, and reduced front costs.
iii. Security
In the last year, thousands of cybersecurity cases have been recorded-phishing attacks, hackings, ransomware, and many more. Because of these vulnerabilities, the government developed the HIPAA privacy rules to offer federal protection to healthcare organizations. Some of the common measures include the use of updated antivirus software, firewalls, and other protection tools that can save trouble.
iv. Data sharing and standardization
Although EHRs make it easier when sharing data between organizations, they are fragmented. Sometimes data is stored in incompatible formats, which complicates data acquisition. Lack of data standardization can lead to limited interoperability.
v. Lack of skills
It is also crucial for health care workers to keep updated with the use of constant changes in technology. It is vital to note that technology is evolving, and with it comes a population of health care workers lacking specific skills.
To sum up
In this digital age, various patient-centric biomedical devices such as smartphones and mobile sensors can help to generate big data. The EHRs, on the other hand, are increasingly helping to build an outstanding prognostic framework. Many organizations have realized the importance of these tools and thus, have implemented them in healthcare and medical practices.
So, professionals must understand evolution. In the coming years, it appears that these tools are going to become a predictive system. They can potentially predict the future outcomes on the health of an individual based on existing data on EHRs.
The final thought; changes to health care and clinical technology offer plenty of benefits to both health care workers and patients.
