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Change is unavoidable. Whether your entity operates as a healthcare trust or a hospital in the public or private sector, it is imperative to adjust, create, and evolve to consistently provide optimal patient experiences. The benefit for healthcare entities in embracing digital transformation lies in their newfound capability to leverage personal information for customized patient treatments. However, the process of migrating healthcare data may seem intricate and overwhelming, yet it doesn’t need to be so. Grasping the fundamental aspects of data migration in healthcare and adhering to recommended practices can guarantee a seamless and prosperous
data conversion.
What is Data Migration in Healthcare?
Data migration in healthcare is the process that involves moving healthcare information from one place to another. This could be shifting data from one computer system for keeping patient records to a different one or moving information from one hospital or clinic to another.
There are different reasons why you might need to move healthcare data. It could be because your healthcare group is changing the computer system they use, you’re bringing together clinics or hospitals, or shutting down a healthcare place. Maybe it’s because there are new rules to follow, or you want to make the way you take care of patients better. Whatever the reason, it’s important to plan carefully and do the move well.
Why is Data Migration in Healthcare Important?
Why is it important to have a plan for moving data? Well, especially in healthcare, having a strategy for data migration is super important. The healthcare sector contributes to about 30% of the world’s data, and with an estimated yearly growth of 6%, it is projected to become the leading industry in generating data by 2025. When we anticipate the global data volume reaching 175 zettabytes (175 trillion gigabytes) by 2025, this statistic becomes particularly noteworthy.
And if you don’t have a plan, moving data can get tricky and might even end up costing your organization more time and money.
Here are a couple of reasons why having a data migration plan is a big deal:
- Saves Time and Money: If you do the data migration right the first time, it can save your organization a lot of time and money.
- Keeps Things Running Smoothly: Having a plan helps make sure that important things in the business keep going as usual during and after the data move.
- Reduces Risks: A data migration strategy also helps lower the chances of problems or risks that can come up when you’re moving healthcare data.
Best Practices for Data Migration in Healthcare
No matter how you decide to move your healthcare data (or what the new system allows), there are some simple things to keep in mind:
Create a Detailed Plan for Moving the Data
The first important step is to make a detailed plan that will guide the whole migration process, especially if you are availing of a Data Management Service. This plan should figure out where the healthcare data is now, where it needs to go, and how it will get there. You need to decide if you’re moving all the data at once, like shifting data from a current system to a new one, or if it will happen in stages over time. It could also be a mix, with some data staying where it is, and some moving to a new system or the cloud.
Your plan needs to include the steps you’ll take, how long each step will take, and who is responsible for each part. It also needs to identify the tools and knowledge you’ll need to move the data. Using special tools can make things more efficient and reduce the chance of mistakes.
Examine the Data You are Moving
Figure out where all the data you want to move is stored. This includes databases, files, and applications with healthcare information. Think about turning paper medical records into electronic ones so that the data can be easily accessed by healthcare providers whenever and wherever they need it. Once you know what data is moving and where it is, the next step is to look closely at the data. This helps decide if any changes are needed to fit the requirements of the new system.
Follow Rules for Data Use
Healthcare has a lot of rules about how data can be used, especially when you are availing of a data management service in healthcare. You need to make sure that when you move healthcare data, it follows these rules. This includes rules like HIPAA and other local or state requirements. Using processes like data encryption and secure channels can help keep sensitive patient information safe when transferring it.
In your plan for moving data, you also need to think about how data stays safe even after it’s moved, especially if it’s stored in the cloud. Your plan might need to add extra security measures to protect against cybersecurity threats. Doing a risk assessment can help find any weaknesses or possible risks so you can fix them before moving your data.
Make Sure Data is in the Right Format
Data needs to be in the correct format for where it’s going. Some healthcare systems want data in a specific way, which might mean changing the data without losing any details. Making sure data is in the right form involves mapping it. This helps figure out how the information in the current system matches the needs of the new system. Implementing a robust data migration strategy is essential for seamless Data transformation. Data mapping, a key component of this strategy, is like making a map that shows how data in different systems can work together by highlighting the connections between data elements. Mapping also makes sure data is transformed correctly before moving it, so it can be easily used and combined with other data.
Check for Data Quality Issues
Any issues with the quality of the data, like missing or incomplete information, will move along with the data. That’s why it’s crucial to fix any problems before moving the data—correct errors, get rid of duplicate records and make sure the data is accurate and complete. Cleaning up the data gives you confidence in its quality. Setting up a program to manage data quality, as outlined in the data migration checklist, is one way to keep the data clean and accurate. After moving the data, check to make sure no details were lost or changed by mistake, and verify that the data is still of good quality. Testing the data after moving it is important to make sure it meets your needs and the new system is working correctly.
Why Choose Intone?
Healthcare data migration happens for various reasons. Some medical groups want updates, others need to move data because of changes in their organization, and some aim to back up data or use advanced data analytics.
No matter why these changes are happening, the process is usually not easy, especially when dealing with a lot of data. To tackle the challenges, we suggest making a migration plan, specifying which data to move, and teaming up with a trustworthy tech provider who understands not only the technology but also the legal rules and industry standards.
Whether you’re switching to a better storage system, changing your electronic health record (EHR) provider, or moving to the cloud, IntoneSwfit is a tool that can assist you in achieving all of your necessities. It offers:
- Knowledge graph for all data integrations done
- 600+ Data, and Application and device connectors
- A graphical no-code low-code platform.
- Distributed In-memory operations that give 10X speed in data operations.
- Attribute level lineage capturing at every data integration map
- Data encryption at every stage
- Centralized password and connection management
- Real-time, streaming & batch processing of data
- Supports unlimited heterogeneous data source combinations
- Eye-catching monitoring module that gives real-time updates
Contact us to learn more about how we can help you!