Most people understand that their personal credit score impacts their financial opportunities, but what if you thought about your healthcare organization’s data governance the same way?
The truth is, when you’ve got solid practices in place for managing your data—when you know, for example, that your data is accurate, robust, organized, and usable—your organization’s performance can improve, and so can your opportunities.
Better healthcare data means faster decisions, stronger compliance, higher customer trust, and long-term cost savings.
So how do you know if your data’s in good shape?
You might already have a sense that things aren’t working quite right when it comes to your data—maybe you’ve noticed that reports tend to conflict, and leaders can’t trust the numbers they see—but without a clear sense of your “data governance score,” it’s hard to know where you stand or how to improve.
Here’s a good/better/best look at where to start. Any of these tools can help you improve, but some will get you to your goals faster than others.
GOOD: Do a self-assessment.
Get clear on your current status.
Just as you’d check your credit report to understand your personal credit score, a data governance self-assessment will help you see where you stand when it comes to your data.
And heads up, if you’re not quite sure what all “data governance” entails, you’re not alone. Most people aren’t. That’s why a self-assessment is a great place to start. The exercise of completing this kind of assessment will help you start to see what you should be measuring, what factors are involved in a solid data strategy, and how well you’re currently managing your data.
A good self-assessment will provide high-level visibility into where any inefficiencies, risks, and missed opportunities might be hiding. Are roles unclear? Are definitions inconsistent? Is your data siloed? You’ll start to get a clearer picture right away.
BETTER: Commit to a maturity model.
Follow a clear path to improvement, step by step.
Knowing your credit score is one thing—knowing how to improve it is another. Similarly, before you can improve your data governance practices, you need a clear path forward.
A data governance maturity model is a structured roadmap, showing you where you are now and where you need to go. It can help you prioritize investments, measure progress, and align your teams around a shared path forward.
Many data governance consulting firms have their own versions of a maturity model, and many of these are available without committing to a full consulting engagement.
BEST: Engage expert support.
Drive business value and make measurable progress quickly.
Just as top financial performers don’t try to manage their portfolios alone, top healthcare organizations understand they need expert support to truly improve their data performance.
If you want to make the most progress with the fewest obstacles, bring in a team of third-party data governance experts. They will know the most efficient way to move you forward, and they’ll help you prioritize the right next steps for your organization. Ideally, find a team that specializes in the unique complexities of healthcare data.
Your data is an asset — but only if it’s governed.
Every minute of every day your healthcare organization is collecting more and more data. That data can either bog you down or it can propel you toward greater efficiencies, performance, and patient experience.
Understanding your “data score” is the first step to unlocking the full value of your healthcare data. If you need help getting started, the data governance experts at DTA Healthcare Solutions can help.
Watch for the free Data Governance Self-Assessment tool from DTA Healthcare Solutions, coming in May 2025. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified when it’s released.
