The 7 benefits of Unified Access to all relevant patient data

With the advent of digital technology in healthcare, data has become an essential component of modern healthcare delivery.

The availability of patient data is crucial for providing quality care, managing patient privacy and safety, and promoting patient engagement. However, data silos and the lack of interoperability between healthcare systems have made it difficult to access patient data across the entire healthcare ecosystem.

Using a quote from the CEO of Health House, Isabelle Francois: In the future a hospital will not be brick and mortar, where you go for treatment and then home. Instead, a hospital will be an integrated healthcare entity that together with General Practitioners, Home Caregivers coordinate and work together to give the best possible assistance to the patient there where the patient feels most comfortable. An example of such is the Sheba Medical Centre in Israel where this close collaboration already exists. When we want to attain this at scale, a unified access to all data of a patient across the entire system is needed.

Unified Access to all relevant patient data

Currently a semblance of availability exists due to the use of Electronical Medical Records (EMR/EHR) kept by the hospitals and the existence of a Generalised Medical Record (GMR) as kept by the GP.

But where a unified information system would enable healthcare providers to access a patient's medical records from any healthcare facility or provider no such exists, consistently across the ecosystem though this would improve patient care by providing a comprehensive view of a patient's health history, current medical conditions, and ongoing treatments. The system would also facilitate communication between healthcare providers, allowing for better coordination of care and reducing the likelihood of medical errors.

The system would allow patients and their families to access their medical records securely, providing them with greater control over their healthcare. Patients could easily access their records, track their progress, and communicate with their healthcare providers.

Garbage in, garbage out

This credo of Digital applies to Digital.Health as well! So, before we discuss how and why to share data, we need to be sure that the data is clear, concise, complete and correct! Recent studies by Deloitte and other reputed institutions raise concern that data in the EMR’s is not to be completely trusted as being correct and/or complete and this for a large percentage of the accumulated information! If we want to deal with this, we need to make sure that the current data needs to be surveyed, compared and corrected where needed or we will create chaos! Luckily what we discuss here is putting the patient in the driver seat and since the source of the data the patient is…

Security and Privacy

Security and privacy are critical considerations in any accessible system. Healthcare providers must adhere to strict regulations governing the storage, transmission, and use of patient data, including GDPR and government regulations on local, regional, federal and EU level. Healthcare providers must ensure that patient data is securely stored and transmitted, using encryption and other security measures.

To ensure privacy, patients must have control over who can access what part of their medical records. Patients must be able to authorize access to their records, and healthcare providers must ensure that only authorized individuals can access the records. Patients must also have the right to view their records and ask to correct any errors. The most efficient way to achieve this is through a federated authority access system where the final say lies with the patient achieved through a non-technical control mechanism.

Access to Different Sources

Unified Access must be able to integrate data from multiple sources, including hospitals, General Practitioners, other first and second line healthcare workers as well as the patient and his relatives. This requires the use of standardized data formats and communication protocols to ensure that data can be shared seamlessly between different systems. The system must be designed to accommodate the needs of different healthcare providers, including those with varying levels of technical expertise.

Access to data for not just primary use but also secondary use

To make the system affordable but also to make healthcare more efficient we do not just need to let doctor and patient be better connected but also to allow the entire Healthcare Ecosystem to better communicate and share information. Clinical studies and research need access to data, unrestricted but within clearly defined rules would be the dream but by getting direct patient consent rather than working through indirect channels would open a source currently untapped.

The 7 benefits of Unified Access to all relevant patient data

The system would offer several benefits, including:

1. Improved patient care: Unrestricted Access to patient data can help healthcare providers make better-informed decisions by providing them with a complete picture of a patient’s health. This can help to improve patient outcomes and reduce the risk of adverse events. Having in one overview access to the medical history, ongoing treatments, and care plans but potentially also to the iOT and personal data provided by social and auxiliary systems would show a completer picture.
2. Enhanced communication and coordination between healthcare providers, reducing the likelihood of medical errors.
3. Improved patient engagement: Unified Access to patient data can also help to improve patient engagement by giving patients greater control over their health information. Patients can access their data, review it for accuracy, and share it with other healthcare providers as they see fit.
4. Improved efficiency and cost savings by reducing the need for duplicate tests and procedures. This will reduce time to treat and potential error which in itself will enhance the trust the patient will have in the doctor and treatment.
5. Use interoperable systems and standards: Through the use of standards, such as FHiR and HL7 the system for accessing patient data warrants interoperabillity and can work with existing systems. Key to success is that no existing system needs to be changed or replaced.
6. Patients MUST have control over their data: Patients should have control over their data, including the ability to review it for accuracy and share it with other healthcare providers as they see fit. This can be achieved through the use of patient portals or other tools that give patients access to their health information.
7. Enhanced research: Unified Access to patient data can help to advance medical research by providing researchers with access to a larger pool of data. This can lead to new insights and discoveries that can improve patient care.

Do you agree with the points above? I’d love to hear your additions and your point of view positive or negative about this reflection, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. In the second edition, I’ll talk about the constraints and the recommendations to reach a Unified Access to Patient Data.

Because as I said, the purpose is not to complain, but try to come with solutions!

#1patient1record4Belgium was founded just for this reason, to analyse the situation and assist in finding solutions for the issues at hand.

Together we know more and united we stand!

Jan Vekemans

#1patient1record4Belgium