Health Technology
Data & Analytics
From data silos to data-driven care
Healthcare data is everywhere, but rarely connected. How the CareHub unlocks healthcare data for better decision-making and personalized care.
By Niels Roest
6 min read
The challenge
The data silo problem in healthcare
The average healthcare organization in the Netherlands works with 15 to 25 different software systems. From the Electronic Health Record (EHR) and the Electronic Patient Record (EPR) to scheduling software, billing systems, client portals, and reporting tools – each system contains a piece of the puzzle, but no single system shows the complete picture.
Patient data becomes fragmented across dozens of databases that do not communicate with each other. A general practitioner sees different information than the specialist at the hospital, and the district nurse is missing both perspectives. The result: healthcare providers spend valuable time searching for information instead of delivering care.
This fragmentation leads to duplicate registrations, conflicting data, and – in the worst case – medical errors. Clinicians enter the same information multiple times, in different systems, because there is no centralized overview. The administrative burden this creates is one of the primary causes of workload pressure and burnout among healthcare professionals.
The absence of a single coherent client view also means that patterns remain invisible. When data is isolated, organizations cannot identify trends, predict risks, or design personalized care pathways. The data exists – but the insights do not.
15–25
Systems on average
Source: Nictiz e-health Monitor, 2024
360°
Client view
Source: PCD CareHub architectuur
40%
Less time searching for information
Source: CareHub case studies
The value of connected healthcare data
When healthcare data is actually connected, something powerful emerges: patterns become visible, and insights that were previously hidden come to light. Connected data is the key to a fundamentally different way of delivering care – proactive instead of reactive, personalized instead of generic.
Better clinical decision-making
When a healthcare professional can view the complete medical history, ongoing treatments, and current measurements at a single glance, clinical decisions become better substantiated. Fewer assumptions, more evidence-based care.
Earlier interventions
By combining data from different sources – from wearables to lab results – deviating patterns can be detected early. A subtle deterioration that remains invisible in a single system becomes apparent when data converges.
Personalized treatment plans
With a complete data picture, care pathways can be tailored to the individual client. Not every patient is the same – and when we can substantiate that with data, the quality of care demonstrably improves.
Population health insights
At an aggregated level, connected data reveals trends in disease burden, risk factors, and healthcare utilization. This enables administrators and policymakers to deploy capacity, prevention, and quality initiatives in a targeted manner.
Quality metrics that work
Quality indicators are only meaningful when they are based on complete and reliable data. Connected systems make it possible to structurally measure, compare, and improve outcomes – without manual data collection.
The difference between fragmented and connected healthcare data is the difference between reacting to symptoms and anticipating needs. Data-driven care starts with breaking down silos.
Our approach
From silos to insight: the CareHub approach
PCD CareHub addresses the data silo problem at its core. With CareHub, we are building an open ecosystem in which healthcare systems seamlessly exchange data via open standards such as HL7 FHIR, Wegiz, and the European EHDS specifications.
01
Connection via open standards
CareHub serves as a digital backbone: an interoperability layer that connects EHRs, EPRs, scheduling systems, billing, and client portals. No custom integrations, but standardized data exchange that is scalable and future-proof.
02
Real-time data sharing between 25 healthtech companies
Within the CareHub ecosystem, 25 complementary healthcare technology companies collaborate. Their systems share real-time data, ensuring healthcare providers always have access to current information – without manual entry or outdated exports.
03
360° client view for healthcare providers
The end result is a complete, real-time overview of the client: medical history, ongoing treatments, measurements, appointments, and social context – all in one place. Healthcare providers no longer need to switch between systems.
Our case studies demonstrate how this approach works in practice: from mental health institutions reducing wait times through connected triage systems, to hospitals streamlining the transition to primary care with shared records.
40% less search time
Healthcare providers spend significantly less time looking up information, and more time on actual care delivery.
Privacy-by-design: responsible handling of healthcare data
Connecting healthcare data carries a great responsibility. Health data is among the most sensitive personal data in existence. That is why privacy-by-design is not an add-on within CareHub, but the foundation upon which the entire ecosystem is built.
GDPR compliance as a starting point
All data exchange within CareHub complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Data processing agreements, Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), and lawful bases are embedded in every process.
NEN7510 security standards
CareHub and all connected companies operate in accordance with NEN7510, the Dutch standard for information security in healthcare. This ensures that technical and organizational measures meet the highest requirements for the protection of patient data.
Data minimization and purpose limitation
Not all data needs to be shared – only what is relevant to the care process. CareHub applies strict principles of data minimization: only the data necessary for a specific purpose is exchanged, and nothing more.
Consent management and transparency
Patients and clients have visibility into which data is shared and with whom. Consent management is set up at a granular level: clients can specify per category which information they wish to share. Transparency about data processing strengthens trust in digital care.
Privacy and data-driven care are not conflicting goals. With the right architecture and governance, they reinforce each other: reliable data that is processed securely leads to better care and greater trust from clients.
The future of data-driven care
The transition from data silos to connected healthcare data is only the beginning. The real transformation occurs when artificial intelligence and machine learning are applied to these integrated datasets. Where connected data makes patterns visible, AI can interpret those patterns, make predictions, and support healthcare providers in complex decisions.
Predictive analytics for prevention
With sufficient historical and real-time data, predictive models can identify at-risk patients before complaints escalate. Think of early detection of readmission risk, predicting falls among the elderly, or detecting psychological decompensation in mental healthcare. Prevention thus becomes not just an ambition, but a data-driven reality.
Population health management
At a regional and national level, connected healthcare data enables monitoring of population health and targeted interventions. Which neighborhoods have the highest disease burden? Where is the intake into mental healthcare strongest? Which prevention programs are most effective? With data-driven insights, the focus shifts from treatment to prevention.
EHDS and Wegiz as accelerators
The regulatory context is accelerating the development of data-driven care. The European Health Data Space (EHDS) creates a European framework for safely sharing health data across borders. In the Netherlands, the Electronic Data Exchange in Healthcare Act (Wegiz) mandates digital data exchange. This legislation confirms what CareHub is already putting into practice: open standards as the foundation for interoperability.
What this means for Dutch healthcare:
- AI on connected data: machine learning models that work on complete datasets instead of fragments, with significantly better predictive value
- European data spaces: the EHDS opens opportunities for cross-border research and benchmarking of care quality
- Mandatory data exchange: Wegiz makes interoperability no longer optional, requiring the entire sector to move toward open standards
The data exists – it is time to turn it into insights
PCD CareHub makes data-driven care a reality through CareHub. From fragmented systems to one connected ecosystem – ready for your organization.
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