Posts Tagged: data conversions

What Is a Data Conversion?

Posted by & filed under Healthcare.

what is a data conversion

Data powers every organization, and the amount of data created, collected, and analyzed grows every day. But data isn’t stationary; it should be portable, as you are likely to want or need to change software systems. That means the data needs to move from the old system to the new system. This process is called a data conversion. But what is a data conversion?

Data Conversions in Healthcare Can Be Complex

Simply put, a data conversion is the transfer of files and data from one software system to another. Sounds easy, right? Just some copying and pasting? Not exactly. 

First, we’re dealing with healthcare data, which is unique in many ways. Healthcare data has specific attributes that make it complex.

Data can be in multiple places.

All your necessary patient data is rarely in one place. It may be in a variety of locations, both within the actual software and other systems. 

Data exists in multiple formats.

Consider the different types of data that are part of your patient software solutions. You have text, numeric entries, images, and more. 

Data can be structured or unstructured.

Not all data is created equal. Structured data is organized and formatted in a way that is easy to find and search. Unstructured data has no predefined format, making it difficult to collect and process. 

Data can be inconsistent across the platform.

There may fields within your software system that you don’t use for their intended purpose. You may also run into inconsistency with field matching. 

Data formats may be incompatible.

Certain file formats are mean to work with specific software programs. This can cause compatibility issues with new software not recognizing some formats.

Data that includes protected health information (PHI) is subject to regulation.

Most importantly, when dealing with healthcare data is that it must be secure and private, following all the requirements of HIPAA and HITRUST.

With all these complexities, it’s much more than a copy and paste scenario. 

Why You Need a Healthcare-Centric Data Conversion 

Migrating data from one healthcare management software platform to another is rarely a linear path. Every system has its own variables, making one-to-one matches nearly impossible. Because of this, healthcare organizations typically choose to work with data conversion experts versus using an automated conversion system or software. 

We use a customized process that is healthcare-centric and platform-agnostic to ensure the highest level of accuracy, migrating data based on your specifications. With our specialized experience and expertise—including over 27,000 healthcare data conversions—we deliver a pain-free process. Our focus is on security, accuracy, and meeting customer expectations. 

Questions about data conversions? Connect with us today to learn more. 

What Are the Best Practices for Data Management for Hospital Pharmacy?

Posted by & filed under Pharmacy.

hospital pharmacy

Hospital pharmacy has unique data challenges. Like any organization, data is one of your most valuable assets. Being able to access it how and when you need is critical. And that can be compromised when you choose to change pharmacy systems.

Hospital Pharmacy Data Conversion Are Not a One Size Fits All

The process of converting is much more complex than taking one set of data and transferring it into a new platform. Many different factors impact the conversion. For example, some fields are consistent across all platforms, some are not.

Many systems are used independently, making migrations tricky. There is also the need for many of these systems to work interoperability with other systems, like EHRs. Further, the priorities of the pharmacy may be different based on the size. Larger health systems have more data and possibly more customization versus community hospitals.

Smooth Conversions Support Better Patient Care

Hospital pharmacy data is critical to improving patient care and ensuring they receive the right medications. That’s why it’s crucial to work with a data conversion partner that understands your operating model.

Overcoming Challenges in Data Management

As a leader and pioneer in pharmacy data management, we’ve helped thousands of hospital pharmacies successfully convert their data. In our over two decades, we’ve learned a lot and want to share it with you. We’ve created a new guide,  “Solving Data Management Challenges for Hospital Pharmacy.”

In the eBook, you’ll learn:

  • Data conversion best practices
  • Data fields that can cause problems
  • Questions to ask your data vendor
  • Why you should purge and archive before converting
  • Security and compliance considerations

Read the eBook today. If you have questions about data conversions, contact us to learn more.

What Is a Health Information System?

Posted by & filed under Healthcare.

health information system

Technology has become a vital tool for healthcare. Clinicians and healthcare professionals use it every day to improve patient care and streamline processes. A critical aspect of healthcare technology is a health information system (HIS). 

Healthcare Information System Examples

A HIS is any system that manages healthcare data. That’s a very broad definition, and there are many types of systems. Some of those include:

  • Electronic Health Record (EHR) or Electronic Medical Record (EMR): These two terms are almost interchangeable. These platforms collect, store, and share data related to a patient’s health history. Data within an EHR or EMR is protected health information (PHI) and must be secure. 
  • Practice Management Software: This type of system manages the daily operations of a practice, such as scheduling and billing. It can help automate many administrative tasks. 
  • Master Patient Index (MPI): This type of platform connects separate patient records across multiple databases. Much of the time, MPIs are employed to reduce duplications and inaccuracies. 
  • Pharmacy Management System: This software includes all data related to a patient’s prescriptions and is found in a number of pharmacy settings, including retail, hospital, and long-term care. 
  • Patient Portals: These systems allow patients to access their health data, including medications and lab results. They can also use it to communicate with physicians and track appointments.
  • Clinical Decision Support (CDS): This type of platform analyzes data from clinical and administrative systems. The analysis can then enable clinicians to make the best clinical decisions. 

The Advantages of Using a HIS

Health information systems focus on efficiency and optimal data management. By using them, you can reap these benefits:

  • Data analytics: The amount of healthcare data created increases daily. Without a robust system, the data has little value. With the aid of technology, you can gather, aggregate, and analyze data. This analysis can improve individual patient care, provide insight on how to manage population health, and reduce costs. 
  • Collaborative care: The healthcare ecosystem includes many types of providers—hospitals, specialists, pharmacy, and more. To ensure continuity of care, being able to quickly and securely transfer data is necessary. 
  • Cost control: Removing paper from the process and going digital can reduce costs for an organization. Technology also allows for quicker exchanges, reducing inefficiencies.

What to Consider When Choosing a HIS

The foremost concern you should have when selecting any software is security and privacy. Healthcare is a huge target for cybercriminals, so you need to ensure that any program you use has the highest security protocols. Any concerns with the security of the data could also compromise HIPAA compliance.

Beyond security, functionality and features are critical to your decision. Consider what your expectations are for the software as well as if it is interoperable with other existing systems. Compare the leading systems in the category to ensure that your needs are met. 

What If You Want to Change Your HIS?

There are many reasons that hospitals, health systems, physician practices, and pharmacies will choose to move to a new platform. Their current software may be sunsetting or changing so that it no longer meets your needs. Cost is also another factor that can make you want to switch. 

No matter what the reason may be to change your HIS, you can take your data with you. With data conversions, data can be pulled from your current system and then loaded to your new system. This gives you the freedom to migrate to a new system without the worries of what happens to your data. 

Thinking of changing one of your information systems? Chat with our experts about how we seamlessly and securely convert data. With over two decades of experience and over 27,000 complete conversions, we make data accessible and portable.