IDC PlanScape: Healthcare Data Platforms for Providers

This IDC PlanScape serves as a guide for senior IT leaders and professionals within healthcare provider organizations on healthcare data platform technology initiatives. It aims to empower CIOs and their direct reports, senior IT directors, IT architects, and IT buyers across various business areas in undertaking investments and planning functions for healthcare data platforms. The document outlines benefits and challenges, identifies key stakeholders, and discusses effective implementation strategies. It emphasizes the necessity for healthcare provider IT leaders to balance innovation with security and compliance while fostering clinician adoption and maintaining operational efficiency. It ensures they understand that transitioning from isolated data systems to a cohesive data platform is not just an upgrade but about rethinking and reshaping how healthcare organizations leverage and excel with data. The document provides detailed insights into data platform architecture, governance, compliance, and user adoption as it applies to healthcare providers via a structured approach aiming to help organizations lower risks, optimize ROI, and enhance patient care, operational efficiency, and financial sustainability, building on previous work by IDC on healthcare data platforms for providers in the areas of vendor evaluation and selection (see IDC MarketScape: U.S. Healthcare Data Platform for Providers 2024–2025 Vendor Assessment, IDC #US50494523, December 2024), best practices (see IDC PeerScape: Peer Insights to Maximize the Impact of Healthcare Data Platforms for Providers, IDC #US52771224, December 2024), and foundational thinking (see IDC TechBrief: Healthcare Data Platforms, IDC #EUR151908223, March 2024). “Healthcare providers that adopt and excel in utilizing modern data platforms will be well positioned to lead in delivering data-driven, value-based care. In contrast, those that lag will struggle to meet increasing expectations and regulatory standards,” said Mutaz Shegewi, senior research director for Worldwide Healthcare Provider Platforms and Technologies at IDC. “Investing in a modern data platform enables healthcare providers to consolidate clinical, operational, administrative, and even patient-generated data. This results in improved decision-making, enhanced patient outcomes, and greater operational efficiency, all while ensuring compliance in a rapidly changing regulatory landscape.”


IDC PlanScape Figure

Executive Summary

Why Are Healthcare Data Platforms for Providers Important?

Benefits

Clinical and Operational

Security and Compliance

Challenges

Interoperability and Legacy System Constraints

Data Quality and Governance Complexity

Scalability and Hybrid Deployment Considerations

Security and Compliance Risks

Cultural Resistance and User Adoption Barriers

What Are Healthcare Data Platforms For Providers?

Who Are the Key Stakeholders?

How Can My Organization Take Advantage of Healthcare Data Platforms for Providers?

Building Executive Sponsorship and Defining a Strategic Vision

Assessing the Current State and Defining Technical and Business Requirements

Selecting the Right Platform and Architecture

Establishing Data Governance and Compliance from the Start

Implementing in Phases: Piloting and Iterating for Success

Driving User Adoption and Continuous Optimization

Advice for Technology Buyers

Align the Platform to Strategic Goals and Prioritize High-Impact Use Cases

Demand Strong Integration and Interoperability

Plan for Scalability, But Never Compromise on Security

Embrace Cloud and Hybrid Flexibility for Future Proofing

Ensure Comprehensive Compliance and Governance Support

Vet Vendors for Long-Term Viability and Innovation

Budget for Full Life-Cycle Costs and Plan for Phased Deployment

Foster a Data-Driven Culture for Long-Term Success

Related Research

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