Opinion

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How can your practice improve data quality and sharing?

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General practice has always been rich in data. From patient contact details and medical histories to pathology reports, diagnostic imaging, prescribing records and consultation notes, our practices are treasure troves of clinical information.
 
But it’s not just the volume of data that matters. It’s how we collect, analyse and share it. And thanks to modern technology, our capacity to do so is rapidly evolving.
 
High-quality general practice data is essential. It underpins good clinical care, informs population health statistics, helps monitor and anticipate health outcomes and identifies individuals at higher risk of disease. It also enables evidence-based decisions around policy, service delivery and resource allocation, all of which contribute to better health outcomes across the board.
 
At the practice level, improved data quality means we can more easily identify patterns and trends for personalised care. It enhances communication between practices, other healthcare providers and patients, supports better follow-up, and allows us to track outcomes more effectively. This refines our care processes over time.
 
One example of how technology is supporting this shift is the increased use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools which can automate data collection, enabling deeper analysis to identify priority areas and generating alerts for missing patient information. All of this contributes to better data quality and, ultimately, better care.
 
But to fully realise the benefits of modern technology, practices must be proactive. We need to take the time to understand the technologies available to us and how they can support both our clinical work and our businesses.
 
The digital health landscape is advancing quickly. If we don’t keep up, we risk falling behind.
 
So, how can your practice improve data quality and sharing? As a starting point, you could:

• talk to your IT provider about adopting interoperable electronic health records and digital platforms
• explore AI tools, such as AI scribes and analytics platforms, which can reduce administrative burden, enhance practice insights, support proactive care and automatically alert you to outdated or missing patient information
• establish consistent policies and procedures to ensure data quality, integrity, security and compliance
• empower your practice team by providing or organising relevant training and support to boost confidence and digital competency
• stay curious and connected; learn from other practices, attend events and keep up with emerging technologies.

One such opportunity is the upcoming Primary Care, Digitally Connected conference, hosted by the Australasian Institute of Digital Health on Tuesday 21 October in Sydney. This event brings together GPs, policymakers and innovators to explore how digital tools, data and policy are reshaping care delivery in Australia. It’s a fantastic chance to learn, network and discover how other practices are using AI and other technologies to improve outcomes.
 
I also encourage colleagues to subscribe to the RACGP’s Practice Technology and Management monthly newsletter, which provides updates and resources to help practices stay informed and ahead of the curve.
 
General practice is evolving, and data is at the heart of that transformation. By embracing modern technology, we can unlock new possibilities for care, connection and continuous improvement.
 
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data sharing digital health general practice data patient data technology

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