Your EMR system comes with a free data catalog, but will it deliver everything you need? That’s a great question, and the answer is: It depends.
Your EMR system is the lifeblood of your healthcare organization, and it’s also one of your most significant digital investments—so it’s wise to use any data tools your EMR provides, whenever possible.
The important thing is to know if (and when) you might need a more robust solution.
If your EMR system comes with a free data catalog, will it deliver everything you need?
That’s a great question, and the answer is: It depends on your needs. If you just need a good way to organize the reports within your EMR, then, yes. Your EMR’s data catalog will do the job.
But if you need to pull together information from a range of systems across your entire organization—everything from supply chain to lab to HR data and beyond—you will likely become frustrated with the limitations of your EMR’s data catalog.
What to look for in a data catalog
If you truly want to tackle enterprise-wide data governance, you’ll need to have a tool that supports your entire enterprise. If that’s the case, here are some things to consider:
1. Does it reliably support every kind of data and metadata throughout your entire organization?
Your EMR-based data catalog will likely be able to pull in data beyond just the EMR system itself, but the reality is that connecting (and staying connected) to every data source across your enterprise requires continual attention from the data catalog’s development team.Most EMR vendors don’t have a dedicated team that can prioritize this work.
Their data catalog is intended for basic use, like EMR reports and data dictionaries, and it will usually only include minimal capabilities beyond that.
TAKEAWAYS:
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- Ideally, your data catalog will include connectors to every key report and data source you have today, and any you may have in the future.
- Look for pre-built connectors to data sources like Crystal Reports, Power BI, Tableau, SQL Server, and more.
- Find out whether those connectors will be installed for you, and customized to your needs.
2. Can it be leveraged by anyone in your organization—even those who don’t use the EMR?
Let’s say you want to create a shared code repository that all of your report writers and data analysts can access, including those who don’t typically access the EMR (which is probably most of them). With a robust data catalog, like, for instance the Compendium Healthcare Data Catalog, that would only require three or four minutes of setup.
However, if you bring this challenge to your EMR team, you may or may not get what you need. If you do, it will probably require a wait.
TAKEAWAY:
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- Make sure your data catalog can fully support every report writer, data analyst, data architect, and business leader throughout your organization.
3. Will it be biased toward (or against) certain types of data?
Keep in mind that a data catalog built by an objective third-party will be better equipped to support your enterprise-wide data governance goals.
Let’s say, for example, you use Epic’s data catalog. Because Epic is currently transitioning their customers away from reporting tools like SAP Crystal Reports and toward their own Epic-developed tools, it’s important to wonder whether optimizing an SAP connector over time will remain a priority for them. If not, this could slow you down and limit the value of your data catalog.
TAKEAWAY:
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- Look for a data catalog that prioritizes your data governance goals, with no chance of roadblocks.
4. Can you customize it to your specific needs?
A basic EMR-driven data catalog will most likely have a pretty rigid structure that you’ll have to find a way to work within. If you’re going to truly tackle enterprise data governance, you’ll need an enterprise-level tool that you can make your own by customizing it to exactly what you need.
TAKEAWAYS:
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- If your organization has any unique requirements, or if you expect your goals to expand or evolve over time, make sure you choose a data catalog that can easily scale and adapt along with you.
- Be sure it’s supported by a dedicated team that can handle any unique or complex requests.
5. Will you have a team of coaches and developers to help you use it?
Getting a data catalog up and running requires some skills. Make sure you’ve got the support you need to fully leverage this powerful tool.
TAKEAWAYS:
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- Find out if your EMR team will work with you to install your connectors and configure your catalog exactly as you want it.
- Look for a team that will continue supporting you as much as you need—helping you build and improve your data governance program over time.
- You shouldn’t have to pay extra for these services, so find a provider that doesn’t charge for ongoing coaching and support.
Bottom line?
If you want to have complete control over what your data catalog can do, and how it can support your strategic objectives, you’ll need more than an EMR-based version. Your EMR vendor is focused on optimizing medical records (as they should be) so the catalog they’ve created will specialize in EMR data, but will struggle beyond that.
A solution like the Compendium Data Catalog will check every box on this list, is more affordable than you might think, and is robust enough to take your healthcare organization well into the future.
Ready for a more robust data catalog? Check out Compendium.
Compendium is designed to support all the needs of your healthcare organization, from top to bottom. Learn more today.
