Digital data and the learning health system

Digital health data are the lifeblood of a continuous learning health system. A steady flow of reliable data is necessary to coordinate and monitor patient care, analyze and improve systems of care, conduct research to develop new products and approaches, assess the effectiveness of medical interventions, and advance population health. The totality of available health data is a crucial resource that should be considered an invaluable public asset in the pursuit of better care, improved health, and lower health care costs. The health data sources that collectively comprise the nation's developing digital health data utility are multiple and rapidly growing. Digital sources of clinical data, such as electronic health records, and registries are increasingly available. So too, are population health data routinely collected through the public health system and its surveys and surveillance activities, and health-related data such as environmental monitoring. Given these trends, there is great opportunity for the virtuous cycle of learning and improvement to extend beyond the context of health care systems to address the broader issue of improving health in communities. Access to the right data, ability to integrate data types to get a complete picture, rigorous analysis and interpretation, and effective dissemination of knowledge will be crucial to making communities effective drivers of continuous improvement of the health of their populations.