157: Bridging Healthcare Data Silos with Technology

Healthcare Data Silos Cause Problems Throughout the Healthcare System

If you talk to any healthcare provider, and most patients, about healthcare data sharing, you quickly discover that one of the biggest problems patients and providers face is healthcare data silos. What do I mean by that? Imagine you see your primary care physician. Your PCP determines you need an evaluation by a specialist. They put in a referral. You go see the specialist like an orthopedic surgeon, and that provider determines you should try a conservative treatment by another sub specialist, like a physical therapist. Fast forward 2 months and you follow-up with your PCP. The PCP asks you how things have been going and you say you don’t feel any improvement. So, your PCP tells you that they believe you would benefit from a physical therapy course of treatment.

Now you’re annoyed. “How did you not know that I’ve just finished up 8 weeks of PT treatment?” you might be thinking. Here’s the problem: your PCP put int he referral for the original specialist, but then had no idea about the PT. Maybe they received some kind of follow-up communication of note from the orthopedic surgeon. But your PCP has not insight into the rest of the course of care.

This is the problem caused by healthcare data silos. So, this week, I sit down with Rick Mirell from Arrow Health to talk about the challenge with healthcare data silos and some new technology-driven tools that aim to solve this problem for the industry.

What we cover in this Episode:

• The importance of open flow of data in healthcare
• The breakdown in communication and data between healthcare systems and provider
• How data can improve clinical outcomes
• The patient experience when healthcare data isn’t shared well

We post videos of certain podcast episodes, including this episode, which can find on the YouTube Channel.

Get Your Copy of My Book Now!

Connect with Arrow

• LinkedIn (Rick Merrill)
  
• ArrowHealth.io

For More:

Join Rafael E. Salazar II, MHS, OTR/L (Rafi), principal of Rehab U Practice Solutions and host of The Better Outcomes Show as he explores the possibilities of a new healthcare. Guests range from clinicians trying new techniques and treatments to executives and entrepreneurs exploring new technology, innovative service delivery methods, business models, and organizational structures. Grab a copy of the book: Better Outcomes: A Guide to Humanizing Healthcare. Or, hire Rafi to speak at your organization or event.

Are You Ready to Take Your Healthcare Business to the Next Level?

Navigating the complexities of the healthcare industry requires deep expertise, actionable insights, and a focus on sustainability. That’s exactly what we deliver. Whether you’re looking to improve patient engagement, streamline operations, or develop a winning go-to-market strategy, I help you move the needle and achieve lasting results. If you want to learn more, reach out. I’d love to talk with you about how I can help you Leverage Objective Advice & Insight, Focused Knowledge, and Industry Expertise to Move the Needle for your Healthcare Business or Organization.

Work With Me

Are you building something innovative in healthcare—like a digital health product, service, or platform that’s aiming to truly improve the patient experience?

I help healthcare startups, SaaS platforms, and forward-thinking provider organizations develop clear positioning strategies, identify high-value offers, and build go-to-market plans that actually resonate with both users and buyers.

Whether you're launching a new product, scaling an existing service, or navigating digital transformation, I bring 12+ years of experience across clinical operations, healthcare innovation, and strategic development.

How I help:

• Clarify your product/service positioning so customers “get it”
• Align your offer with real market needs
• Build a Digital Health Roadmap to scale your healthcare organization effectively
• Support business development with industry-informed strategy

I’ve consulted on projects from multi-million-dollar state initiatives to early-stage product launches. My work’s been featured in Forbes, and I also speak at healthcare events and conferences on topics like innovation, digital health, and humanizing care. I also speak and train at healthcare conferences, events, and organizations on topics related to technology-enabled care, healthcare innovation, healthcare positioning, and humanizing the healthcare experience.

👉 Let’s connect and see if we’re a good fit.