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The healthcare sector produces about 30% of all data generated globally, increasing at a compound annual rate of 36% by 2025.
The increasing data from clinical trials, medical records, and other sources requires efficient and compliant data handling. Clinical research organizations (CROs), healthcare providers, and pharmaceutical companies turn to business process outsourcing (BPO) to address these expectations.
Continue reading to learn the benefits and strategies of integrating BPO in clinical data management. This article explains how outsourcing may guarantee data processing, compliance, and operational efficiencies.
How can BPO aid in clinical data management?
In the healthcare industry, data is more than just statistics; it is the basis for research, patient care, and innovation. Effective data management is necessary to deliver high-quality care and develop innovative solutions. But what is BPO’s role in managing clinical data?
Specialized BPO firms provide comprehensive support to streamline data collection, validation, analysis, cleaning, and transformation. They ensure efficiency in data management services such as:
- Clinical data entry
- Data management planning
- Case report form (CRF) design
- Integration with existing systems
- Database design and implementation
- Statistical analytic services
- Data quality audits
- External data and event reconciliation
Benefits of outsourced clinical data management
Outsourcing clinical data management allows companies to concentrate on innovation and research while guaranteeing effective and compliant data processing, particularly in vital healthcare projects. Here’s a closer look at how BPO providers aid clinical studies and other data-infused activities in the health sector:
Improved data quality and processing efficiency
BPO providers specializing in clinical data management emphasize cleansing, standardizing, and validating data to improve quality. This ensures accurate and trustworthy information for research and decision-making purposes.
By streamlining data workflow through standardization and modern technology, BPO organizations free up internal resources for more critical work.
Practical tools for improving efficiency and accuracy include:
- Electronic data capture (EDC): EDC systems are used primarily in clinical trials to collect and manage patient data in digital form. These systems replace traditional paper-based methods, streamlining data collection, storage, and analysis and improving the accuracy and efficiency of data management.
- Electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePRO): ePRO systems enable patients to digitally report health outcomes in real time via smartphones, tablets, or computers, improving the accuracy and immediacy of patient data.
- Interactive response technology (IRT): IRT systems automate essential trial functions by managing patient enrollment, drug dispensation, and randomization during clinical trials.
- Randomization and trial supply management (RTSM): RTSM systems handle patient randomization and manage the supply of investigational products, ensuring timely and accurate trial execution.
- Safety gateway: These systems oversee safety data collection, review, and regulatory filing to accelerate adverse event reporting while ensuring compliance and resolving safety issues quickly.
- Coding application: This tool facilitates reliable data interpretation by standardizing medical terminology in clinical trials, particularly for adverse events and drugs.
- Laboratory data integration: Lab modules integrate laboratory data into clinical trial databases to transfer data seamlessly, maintain data integrity, and adhere to regulatory compliance standards.
Reduced operating costs
By outsourcing clinical data administration, businesses can save money by not having to pay for internal infrastructure maintenance and data management teams.
Outsourcing in the Philippines can lead to a 70% cost reduction. As a developing Southeast Asian nation, it has a lower cost of living than its neighboring countries, with daily wages even lower than the hourly rate in the U.S.
For instance, a senior data analyst in the Philippines earns an average of ₱45,000 per month or ₱585,000 annually (around $10,220). This is less than 10% of the estimated annual salary of their U.S.-based counterpart, which is $118,560.
Increased scalability
Scalability improves by leveraging adaptable BPO solutions, which allow businesses to adjust operations based on project complexity and data volume. This flexibility helps companies manage unforeseen surges in demand without straining internal resources or jeopardizing data integrity, especially when launching new initiatives or goods.
BPO companies have readily available staff, sophisticated instruments, and technological infrastructure, such as cloud-based data systems, to manage expanding datasets. Because BPO providers share their investments among numerous clients, providing economies of scale, this technique is more cost-effective than adding more staff members and equipment internally.
For instance, BPO providers can quickly deploy skilled employees to handle the influx of data during extensive clinical trials or regulatory submissions, guaranteeing continuity and timely project completion. Additionally, they can reduce staffing when demand declines, saving money on running expenses.
Selecting the right BPO partner in clinical data management
The healthcare BPO industry could expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.7% to reach $626.6 billion by 2029, and advanced data analytics emerges as a critical opportunity. Partnering with a competent BPO firm with analytical capabilities allows companies to utilize this growth and boost their clinical data management processes.
However, they must consider the following criteria to find a BPO partner that aligns with their needs and goals:
- Expertise and experience: Choose a BPO provider with a proven track record in clinical data management and a thorough understanding of healthcare data and the whole sector. This expertise ensures they can effectively address specific challenges and requirements.
- Technology capabilities: Verify that the BPO firm has the technology infrastructure and instruments required to handle massive datasets and carry out intricate studies, including advanced analytics, data warehousing, and data mining.
- Security and compliance: Verify that the provider implements robust security measures, such as encryption, regular audits, and disaster recovery plans, to protect sensitive patient information. Familiarity with relevant regulations is crucial in avoiding legal and reputational risks.
- References and testimonials: Request references from the BPO firm’s old clients or check reviews online to gauge its reputation, reliability, performance, and customer satisfaction.
- Communication and collaboration: Ensure the provider has a clear communication process that aligns with the organization’s values and goals. This alignment helps the BPO provider understand business needs and deliver the desired outcomes.
Best practices for implementing BPO in clinical data management
The following best practices can help organizations ensure process efficiency and achieve better outcomes in outsourced clinical data management:
- Establish clear data governance policies. Define transparent processes and policies for data collection, storage, access, and use. They help manage data consistently and comply with organizational and regulatory requirements.
- Implement data quality assurance measures. Regularly monitor and assess data quality to identify and address issues. This process involves data cleaning, validation, and standardization procedures.
- Leverage advanced technologies. Explore using advanced technologies, such as natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML), to extract insights from clinical data. These assist in automating processes related to data analysis and help spot patterns and trends that conventional methods might miss.
- Secure data. Establish robust security plans and procedures to avoid unauthorized access or breaches. These measures include encryption, access controls, and regular BPO security audits.
- Monitor and evaluate performance. Analyze the effectiveness of the outsourcing contract. Track the provider’s performance against metrics to determine whether their services meet business needs and deliver the desired outcomes.
The bottom line
Organizations can effectively leverage specialized BPO services to enhance their clinical data management capabilities and achieve better outcomes in their research and patient care initiatives.
If you want to learn more about how BPO services can optimize your clinical data management systems, let’s connect!
