What You Should Know:
– New LexisNexis Risk Solutions Health Care survey reveals that 63% of respondents believe designating ownership of provider data will improve care coordination, yet only 18% of organizations report having a dedicated data governance department
– The survey results are based on over 100 qualified responses from organizations across the industry, including independent hospitals, teaching hospitals, independent physician groups, and federally qualified health centers.
LexisNexis Risk Solutions this week announced the results of a study which shows that 63 percent of respondents believe designating ownership of provider data will improve care coordination, yet only 18 percent of organizations report having a dedicated data governance department. Conducted in collaboration with Xtelligent Healthcare Media, the LexisNexis Risk Solutions Health Care survey is designed to identify provider data governance decision-makers in provider organizations and understand data governance challenges and their impact on operational efficiency. The survey shows that while provider data integrity is vital for efficient care coordination, the lack of a designated department responsible for this information serves as a barrier to its effective use.
COVID-19 Pandemic Underscores the Importance of Accurate Provider Data
Research estimates the healthcare industry spends more than $2 billion every year on provider data management. And yet, an average of 49 percent of all provider directories have at least one inaccuracy according to a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) report of Medicare Advantage organizations.
Without accurate healthcare provider data, patients can get lost in the system and providers are unable to submit referrals to another doctor for continued care with confidence. As patient volumes increase, the need for better healthcare coordination and interoperability intensifies. Healthcare provider data management is often set aside, leaving organizations to focus exclusively on the accuracy and security of patient data. However, provider data is equally important as it enables proper care coordination, smooth transitions of care, and improvements to the quality of the patient experience. The COVID-19 crisis has made the need for accurate provider information more apparent as increased patient volumes require intense and well-coordinated care.
Survey Results
The results of the LexisNexis Risk Solutions Health Care survey, conducted in collaboration with Xtelligent Healthcare Media, show the following:
1. 73 percent of survey respondents from various departments reported job roles directly tied to governing provider data. The departments include Information Technology (IT), Information Systems (IS), Electronic Health Records (EHR), Health Information Management, Population Health and Care Coordination.
IT department was the most common owner of this information, cited by 38 percent; followed by IS department, cited by 35 percent; and EHR, cited by 34 percent. Only 18 percent indicated having a dedicated data governance department in charge of provider information.
46 percent of all respondents identified the lack of a single department or role responsible for provider data governance as the major challenge currently facing their organizations.
2. 63 percent of respondents believe that provider data governance helps improve care coordination and 53 percent believe it helps improve data integrity.
3. Lack of resources to support proper data governance was the second biggest challenge organizations face, according to 44 percent of all respondents.
“Ensuring accuracy and integrity of provider data will reduce pressure on providers and promote better patient care during a time when patient intake is guaranteed to increase,” said Josh Schoeller, chief executive officer of LexisNexis Risk Solutions Health Care. “Having accurate, up-to-date provider details across the healthcare enterprise has positive implications for patient care and organizational efficiency, and the results of our survey highlight the urgency of developing a cohesive strategy for provider data governance.”
