Unlocking the Value of Clinical Data: Insights from Dr. Sara Pastoor at NAWHC
The modern healthcare landscape is overflowing with data—but making that data useful for patient care remains a significant challenge. At the recent roundtable hosted by the National Association of Worksite Health Centers (NAWHC), Dr. Sara Pastoor, along with other industry leaders, discussed how on-site and near-site clinics can unlock the value of clinical patient data to enhance care delivery.
The Everyday Complexity of Clinical Data Exchange
Even with all the advances in health technology, many clinicians are still struggling with fragmented patient data. As Dr. Pastoor noted, outdated systems such as fax-based communication and the lack of interoperability between electronic health records (EHRs) create inefficiencies that hinder effective care coordination. For those working in primary care, especially within employer-based health clinics, the challenges go beyond just data fragmentation.
Dr. Pastoor explained that primary care teams are often bombarded with huge piles of raw, unfiltered data during their hectic days. Instead of receiving neatly organized, patient-focused information that helps them make quick, informed decisions, they’re left trying to decipher overwhelming dumps of data.
Adding to these challenges is the ever-growing administrative burden on clinicians. This isn’t just a technical hiccup—it’s a real human issue. When clinicians are buried under endless paperwork and clunky data systems, they lose precious time that could be spent caring for patients. This situation clearly calls for smarter, more streamlined data solutions that free up clinicians to do what they do best—provide quality patient care.
Paving the Way for a Data-Driven Future With AI, HIEs, and Smarter EHR Systems
Despite the challenges, the panelists explored potential solutions to improve clinical data exchange and usability. Some of the solutions Dr. Pastoor and her colleagues discussed include the use of artificial intelligence (AI and large language models (LLMs) to sift through data, the ways in which clinicians are leveraging health information exchanges (HIEs) for smoother communication, and how designing smarter EHR systems that truly meet the needs of today’s clinicians can drastically simplify the way clinicians provide care. The key takeaway? Data should empower, not encumber, clinicians. Real-time sharing and better interoperability can pave the way for improved patient outcomes and a more sustainable healthcare system.
Overall, Dr. Sara Pastoor’s participation in the NAWHC roundtable highlighted the urgent need to improve clinical data exchange, especially in employer-based healthcare settings. By focusing on making data systems more user-friendly and efficient, we can help clinicians spend less time on paperwork and more time doing what matters most—caring for patients.
At Elation, we're deeply committed to this vision. We believe in harnessing technology to simplify workflows, reduce administrative burdens, and ultimately improve patient care. To see how we’re making strides in this area, check out a sample chart.