How Health Systems Are Making Legacy Data More Usable at the Point of Care

The following is a guest article by Brian Liddell, CEO at Harmony Healthcare IT

Healthcare organizations have made meaningful progress in consolidating clinical data in the EHR. Yet for many clinicians, a significant and persistent challenge remains: relevant patient information is still fragmented across systems and accessing it from the EHR isn’t always seamless.

In a recent survey of 61 health IT professionals, nearly 40% of respondents identified data fragmentation across systems as their top frustration with current health data systems. Another 30% pointed to slow or inconsistent access to patient information, while 23% said current systems do not align well with clinical workflows. 

Even with continued investment in modern EHRs, healthcare teams continue to spend time navigating multiple systems to piece together a complete patient picture. A significant portion of that fragmentation comes from legacy systems and archived data that remain outside the EHR, often without clear visibility or seamless access.

The Visibility Problem 

Much of the focus on fragmentation centers on integration and interoperability. But even when systems are connected, clinicians still need to know when relevant historical data exists. In many organizations, that data remains in legacy systems or archival environments. If it isn’t surfaced within the EHR, clinicians may not realize it’s there. When they do, accessing it often requires separate logins, additional steps, or leaving the EHR.

Survey responses reflect this challenge. Only 20% of respondents rated clinical access to legacy data as “very good,” while more than one-third described it as “fair” or “poor.” In practice, legacy data may be available, but it isn’t always visible or easy to use within existing workflows. 

Designing for Awareness, Not Just Access 

Improving access to legacy data does not necessarily require broad system changes. In many cases, it begins with legacy data archiving solutions that make the presence of that data more visible to end users. The most effective legacy data archiving solutions provide: 

• Clear indicators within the EHR when legacy data exists, so clinicians immediately know when additional patient history is available
• Single Sign-On and in-context EHR access, so clinicians can view historical records within their workflow rather than logging into separate systems
• Fast, intuitive search capabilities, so clinicians, HIM, and revenue cycle teams can quickly locate relevant information from both structured and unstructured legacy records

Beyond the point of care, similar principles apply to administrative workflows. More streamlined release of information processes within archiving solutions can help HIM teams deliver archived records more efficiently, reducing manual effort and improving turnaround times.

Making Legacy Data Part of Everyday Workflows

When historical information is embedded into clinical and administrative workflows, it can support faster decision-making, reduce unnecessary follow-up, and streamline processes. When it is not, it can contribute to the same fragmentation organizations are trying to solve. For CIOs and health IT leaders, improving how legacy data is surfaced and used within existing workflows represents a clear opportunity.

Ultimately, the goal is simple: clinicians and staff should be able to find and use the information they need without extra steps or disruption.

About Brian Liddell

Brian Liddell is CEO of Harmony Healthcare IT. He brings more than two decades of experience in healthcare technology, finance, and operational leadership, with a focus on helping healthcare organizations better manage and utilize their data.

The following is a guest article by Brian Liddell, CEO at Harmony Healthcare IT

Healthcare organizations have made meaningful progress in consolidating clinical data in the EHR. Yet for many clinicians, a significant and persistent challenge remains: relevant patient information is still fragmented across systems and accessing it from the EHR isn’t always seamless.

In a recent survey of 61 health IT professionals, nearly 40% of respondents identified data fragmentation across systems as their top frustration with current health data systems. Another 30% pointed to slow or inconsistent access to patient information, while 23% said current systems do not align well with clinical workflows. 

Even with continued investment in modern EHRs, healthcare teams continue to spend time navigating multiple systems to piece together a complete patient picture. A significant portion of that fragmentation comes from legacy systems and archived data that remain outside the EHR, often without clear visibility or seamless access.

The Visibility Problem 

Much of the focus on fragmentation centers on integration and interoperability. But even when systems are connected, clinicians still need to know when relevant historical data exists. In many organizations, that data remains in legacy systems or archival environments. If it isn’t surfaced within the EHR, clinicians may not realize it’s there. When they do, accessing it often requires separate logins, additional steps, or leaving the EHR.

Survey responses reflect this challenge. Only 20% of respondents rated clinical access to legacy data as “very good,” while more than one-third described it as “fair” or “poor.” In practice, legacy data may be available, but it isn’t always visible or easy to use within existing workflows. 

Designing for Awareness, Not Just Access 

Improving access to legacy data does not necessarily require broad system changes. In many cases, it begins with legacy data archiving solutions that make the presence of that data more visible to end users. The most effective legacy data archiving solutions provide: 

• Clear indicators within the EHR when legacy data exists, so clinicians immediately know when additional patient history is available
• Single Sign-On and in-context EHR access, so clinicians can view historical records within their workflow rather than logging into separate systems
• Fast, intuitive search capabilities, so clinicians, HIM, and revenue cycle teams can quickly locate relevant information from both structured and unstructured legacy records

Beyond the point of care, similar principles apply to administrative workflows. More streamlined release of information processes within archiving solutions can help HIM teams deliver archived records more efficiently, reducing manual effort and improving turnaround times.

Making Legacy Data Part of Everyday Workflows

When historical information is embedded into clinical and administrative workflows, it can support faster decision-making, reduce unnecessary follow-up, and streamline processes. When it is not, it can contribute to the same fragmentation organizations are trying to solve. For CIOs and health IT leaders, improving how legacy data is surfaced and used within existing workflows represents a clear opportunity.

Ultimately, the goal is simple: clinicians and staff should be able to find and use the information they need without extra steps or disruption.

About Brian Liddell

Brian Liddell is CEO of Harmony Healthcare IT. He brings more than two decades of experience in healthcare technology, finance, and operational leadership, with a focus on helping healthcare organizations better manage and utilize their data.