Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Healthcare Database

Healthcare databases play an important role in the modern healthcare ecosystem. From understanding the audience (B2B & B2C healthcare audience) to implementing marketing strategies, building engagement, and improving operational efficiency, healthcare databases are the primary requirement for any healthcare organization. Some healthcare organizations that have no constraints of budget, time, and resources, build email lists on their own while a majority of the healthcare organizations rely on databases from external database vendors.

However, since the market is filled, many healthcare providers fail to choose the right database vendor that aligns with all their needs and understands their objectives. Hence, we are listing the key factors to consider before purchasing the healthcare database.

Security and Compliance

The importance of security and compliant-safe data cannot be overstated, especially in the healthcare industry where private and sensitive information is involved. Checking the security of the data is the primary factor to be considered while purchasing a healthcare database.

Different regions will have specific rules for collecting, storing, and processing of healthcare data (ex: GDPR and HIPAA). Ask if your healthcare database provider has followed all the applicable rules and regulations while collecting and using the data.

Any unauthorized access or misuse of healthcare data can erode trust and damage the reputation of your healthcare organization. Hence, it is crucial to choose a healthcare database that is compliant-safe and follows robust security measures to safeguard the data from data breaches and cyber-attacks.

Deliverability and email open rates

Imagine that you keep sending well-crafted emails, but your audience does not open them, because they are not interested in your product/service, and they have not opted for it! A low deliverability rate can harm the reputation of your healthcare organization and may result in emails being marked as spam. If your email is marked as spam, there are high chance that it won’t reach the recipient’s inbox thus affecting the open rates and engagement rates.

Before purchasing a healthcare database, confirm the deliverability rate and relevance of your email list. Purchasing a healthcare database from a random database provider will be a waste of investment, time, and resources, and also lowers the performance of your email marketing campaign.

Data Integration and Interoperability

Data Integration is another important aspect to consider while purchasing an email list. Numerous healthcare organizations function from multiple locations and in various departments. Data integration helps healthcare providers access a holistic view of patient/consumer data by combining information from various resources.

Also, interoperability empowers healthcare organizations with the smooth transfer of data from different systems and apps. Hence, data integration and interoperability in healthcare database is crucial for creating a connected and efficient healthcare ecosystem.

To achieve better decision-making, improved collaboration, and streamlined operations, ensure to buy a healthcare database that promises effortless data integration and interoperability.

Data ownership and control

Check the data ownership and ensure that you have the control to leverage the database to the fullest. Also, ask your healthcare database provider about the data portability in case you decide to change your database provider. Ensure to check that your database vendor has clear policies in place regarding the processing, storage, and usage of data at various levels, and for multiple marketing purposes.

Transparency in the data collection process

As discussed above, there are certain applicable rules for collecting and storing the data. Recipients must be aware of how their data is being used, and clear opt-in and opt-out opportunities should be given. Database providers that collect data from authentic sources by taking explicit consent will be transparent about their data collection process and sources.

Knowing the sources enables healthcare organizations to check the reliability, accuracy, and relevance of the data. So it is crucial to demand transparency while purchasing databases from the vendors.

Customization and segmentation

Healthcare organizations are embracing new marketing strategies and possibilities to connect and effectively engage an audience are numerous. Every marketing strategy needs a different kind of segmentation as per the objectives of the campaign.

Also, customized and segmented data allows healthcare organizations to tailor their message for each target group and allows them to implement highly targeted marketing campaigns. Hence, before purchasing the healthcare database, check for the customization and segmentation of the database as per the needs and objectives of your healthcare marketing campaigns.

Be sure about data backup and recovery measures

Data backup and recovery measures are critical considerations while purchasing a healthcare database. Data is crucial for day-to-day operations, and it becomes even more important if the healthcare organization completely relies on electronic data.

Data loss due to cyber threats, natural disasters, hardware failures, and other unforeseen circumstances will heavily disrupt the clinical workflows and also cause a financial burden. Hence, it is important to ensure that your database provider will provide robust data backup and recovery solutions.

Conclusion

Above are the factors that help you to purchase a healthcare database from the right vendor. However, before purchasing the healthcare database, healthcare organizations can ask for free/sample data to cross-verify all the above measures and choose the right database vendor.