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The management of information has always been an important issue for the healthcare sector. Now that the clinical data warehouse has become so important to this field there is more interest in developing effective implementation strategies. Currently, there are federal guidelines for converting all medical records to electronic format. Therefore, data warehousing in healthcare is a matter of necessity for service providers. Regardless of the reason for the conversion and storage of records, both the medical facility and the patients will benefit.

A large data repository helps healthcare service providers create partnerships with other stakeholders in their field. They can share the results of clinical drug trials and recent studies on diseases. This type of data interoperability creates an environment in which healthcare facilities can align their efforts to manage information effectively. Without a property strategy in place, however, these efforts will not amount to much. In fact, this will create additional challenges for any organization.

It is necessary for any organization to understand how adopting a medical records management policy will improve efficiency within the organization. This is critical to implementation, as it will help in establishing guidelines for access. It will also help in determining who will have the right to use patient records at various levels within the organization. Rapid access to information will also improve workflow within the organization. There must also be an understanding of the need of clinical data warehouse administrators for the latest technology, both in terms of software and hardware solutions. This is also the opportunity for the organization to work out the cost for all the necessary tools, and for training staff to access and use data. Making the transition from paper to electronic records may require that another organization be brought in to train staff in the use of the electronic system.

Asking why do you need a clinical data warehouse is understandable, as many organizations have worked well with paper records for years. However, switching to electronic records and taking advantage of data repositories can streamline your organization’s workflow. Any organization that wants to integrate its clinical data should adopt an enterprise wide approach to the software implementation. All relevant departments should be able to access information available in the database. Another major step in implementing a clinical data storage strategy is to educate the staff on the use of the records and maintaining the privacy of patients. The security of the records is another major aspect of any implementation effort. Established guidelines must be put in place, and they must be updated as necessary.