Why Technology and Clinical Data Strategy Must Align
for Healthcare Quality Improvement
By Katrina Parrish, MD, Chief Medical Informatics Officer, The SSI Group
October 16th, 2025
Healthcare organizations capture an enormous amount of clinical data every day. Without a clear IT strategy, much of that information cannot be shared easily, is disconnected, and underutilized. An effective IT strategy ensures that data from EHRs, other clinical systems, and external sources is accessible in real-time, flows seamlessly, and can be trusted for decision-making.
The World Health Organization’s 2024 report on over 50 health-related indicators revealed the need for healthcare organizations to invest in data quality to achieve better patient outcomes, operational efficiency, and compliance.1 When technology and data work in harmony, organizations can move beyond just collecting information to using it to improve care coordination and value-based care reimbursement.
The strategic importance of clinical data is driving the need for better access
Healthcare data is spread across different systems and shows up in all sorts of formats, making it inherently difficult to use at scale. By leveraging technology and innovative data management, clinical data becomes easily accessible, trustworthy, and complete – and ultimately a strategic asset that drives higher operational efficiency and healthcare quality.
Studies have shown that up to 30% of medical errors come from inaccurate or incomplete data, leading to inefficiencies such as unnecessary duplicate procedures.2 In contrast, high-quality data provides a foundation for safer patient care, more reliable quality measurement, and greater operational efficiency.
Technology plays a critical role in enabling clinical data strategy
Clinical data strategy cannot succeed without technology that ensures accessibility, integration, and scalability. Interoperability across EHRs, HIEs, labs, and other health-related systems is essential for seamless exchange of information. Real-time clinical data exchange ensures that clinicians are acting on the most current health information. Automation reduces the manual burdens associated with annual HEDIS reporting.
End-to-End Clinical Data Flow:
From Patient Encounter to Quality Improvement
Patient visits provider (PCP, specialist, or hospital, etc.)
Data Types:
- Structured: Diagnoses, vitals, labs, procedures, medications
- Unstructured: Progress notes, discharge summaries
- Coding: Diagnoses, services, procedures, labs, meds
Data is distributed across systems/networks
Provider EHR Systems: Integrate with Health Information Exchanges, QHINs, and other provider systems
Payer Systems: Receive claims and encounter data (X12 EDI)
- HL7 messages
- FHIR APIs
- CCD documents
Data used by providers, care managers, health teams, and apps
Triggers
- Alerts for follow-up care
- Lab result reviews
- Referrals
Payers compare data to quality measures
Gaps Identified
- Data vs Clinical
- Preventive screenings (e.g., mammogram, HbA1c)
- Chronic Care Management
- Medication Adherence
Alerts: Sent to providers via secure messaging system or secure email
Aggregation of patient and clinical data
Quality Measurement: CMS, NCQA HEDIS specs (e.g., diabetes control, cancer screening)
Analysis: Population analytics, risk adjustment
Reporting: Data submitted to NCQA, CMS, state agencies
Feedback Loop:
Providers receive performance data for improvement
Technology is the key enabler of data strategy
Aligning IT and clinical data strategies is key to healthcare quality improvement. Healthcare leaders that invest in interoperable, automated solutions are in a better position for long-term success.
Results of IT and Clinical Data Strategy Alignment
Benefits
- Reduced staff burdens
- Fast and accurate quality measurement
- Unified comprehensive medical histories
- Improved care coordination and health outcomes
- Compliance with CMS and interoperability requirements
- Cross-functional data integrity
- Opportunities for AI-powered insights
SSI’s Clinical Data Solutions
SSI’s Clinical Data Solutions empower providers and payers to unlock the full potential of clinical data. By streamlining data exchange, these solutions support value-based care models where both financial performance and clinical outcomes matter.
CareExchange
- Technology for interoperability (EMRs, HIE, QHIN)
CareAlign®
- User interface for Interoperable data
- Secure communication between providers
Clinical Data Services
- Unification of patient records
QM Optimizer Elite® for Providers
- Automated claim and clinical data aggregation
- Population health management insights
QM Optimizer Elite® for Payers
- Automated clinical and claim data to FHIR bundle aggregation.
- Monthly prospective HEDIS ratings using the NCQA Digital Content Services engine
Explore how SSI’s Clinical Data Solutions can help your organization unlock the power of clinical data.
REFERENCES:
- World Health Organization. (2024). World health statistics 2024: Monitoring health for the SDGs.
- “Failures in Communication Contribute to Medical Malpractice.” Press Release, Jan. 31, 2016. Updated June 30, 2025.
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