Nearly 80% of medical data remains unstructured and untapped after it is created, meaning a significant majority of all available data sources are not systematically leveraged in clinical or business decisions. At the same time, healthcare organizations often utilize multiple analytics tools for decision-making, highlighting the fragmented nature of today’s analytics ecosystem.
For medication management, many clinicians experience some level of data paralysis every day. Between checking lab results, combing through EHR data, understanding therapy interactions, and staying current with new medications, there’s no shortage of information to absorb – and that data is often disconnected and hard to decipher. From procurement to administration and monitoring of medications, there are so many touchpoints that open opportunities for disconnection of communication and potential harm.
The data noise is loud, but with the right steps, pharmacists can turn data overload into clarity. Here are 3 ways to arm your clinicians with the data they need, when they need it.
Do more with your EHR data
Pharmacists typically start their day reviewing patient lists and standard EHR reports including labs, medications, and pre-existing conditions. Yet with mounting responsibilities and an endless stream of data to manage, they are stretched thin – making technology an essential ally to reduce burnout and help them focus on delivering high-quality patient care.
And when creating reporting systems, speed and clarity are paramount as patient data may be outdated by the time it reaches the pharmacist. A physician may have ordered additional labs only a few hours before or prescribed a new medication based on their observations in morning rounds. Pharmacists therefore need a reporting mechanism that delivers in-the-moment data, helping them avoid data paralysis and stay abreast of their patients’ care needs. They don’t have time to go back through the EHR multiple times a day; they need a system that synthesizes all the EHR data and flags the most crucial information.
Consider a patient with a platelet count of 200,000, a value within the normal range of 150,000-400,000. However, “normal range” is not enough information. But if that count fell from 350,000 the day before, the pharmacist needs to know and act on that data right away. This may signal tissue necrosis or organ damage caused by early heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Without tools that highlight deltas, trends, and clinical significance – not just raw values – critical risk indicators can be missed.
Use AI to identify data trends and close gaps
AI is not about replacing clinical judgement. It’s about reducing the burden of data fatigue, highlighting data trends, and helping make sense of qualitative data – or even identify data gaps.
Clinical leaders and pharmacists often struggle to track how their teams are upholding a culture of safety. They have the data, but can’t clearly see the story it’s telling them due to the volume of information tracked, and sometimes, what’s not reported is even more telling. AI can comb through reports to find the key trends leaders need to be aware of regarding patient outcomes, risk events, and potential gaps in care.
This helps leaders focus their time with confidence and precision. The next time they walk the floor or have five minutes to catch up with a pharmacist, they’ll be aware of the most pressing safety concerns and can have a more open, thoughtful discussion with their team.
In fact, several healthcare institutions using AI in medication management have reported measurable improvements such as:
- Up to 40% increase in medication adherence
- Over a 50% reduction in missed refills
- A 75% drop in prescription errors
- And a faster detection of potential adverse reactions.
These examples demonstrate AI’s growing impact on pharmacy practice and patient care. Additionally, AI can help leaders track trends in staffing, the revenue cycle, and more. It’s increasingly becoming part of how healthcare works, and with the right data connections in place, can offset data paralysis far beyond the pharmacy space.
Start small, start now.
One of the biggest factors holding pharmacy teams back from getting more out of their data is not knowing where to start. Decision paralysis prolongs data paralysis – so choose one thing to address in your data strategy and get started right away.
Fortunately, you don’t have to decide alone. Ask your staff on the frontlines what they think is holding back your clinical outcomes. Get their take on where to start focusing your organization’s time and resources to improve data management and timely reporting, then run small tests of change. The tests may or may not work, but then you’ll know. Scale what’s working well and pivot from what’s not working to the next idea. Be willing to fail fast in the pursuit of establishing stronger systems that empower pharmacists, protect patients, and reinforce a culture of safety throughout your team.
Preparing for the future of pharmacy care
As the pharmacy landscape evolves – expanding into new care settings, introducing new medications, and integrating advanced data and technology – data noise will hold some teams back, while smart data systems will set others apart as leaders in this space.
And the next generation is part of this race, too. They’re already preparing for this shift by training on AI tools and simulation labs to meet the demands of a data-driven future. Similarly, long-time clinicians and pharmacy leaders must continue to adapt, embracing new data management approaches, staying current on emerging therapies, and fostering a culture of innovation that keeps pharmacy care at the forefront of healthcare progress.
Hayley Burgess
Hayley Burgess is SVP, Provider Surveillance and Safety for Inovalon.
