Structured vs Unstructured Data in Health IT

Structured and unstructured data are both part of how clinical information is captured, but they serve different purposes. When you’re building or modifying documentation in the EHR, decisions about structure affect more than just the form. They influence how clinicians document, how information is interpreted later, and how that data can be used across the system. In this video, I walk through: • what we mean by structured and unstructured data in clinical systems • how each one shows up in documentation workflows • what to consider when designing templates, flowsheets, and forms • how those decisions affect reporting, decision support, and ongoing system maintenance These decisions come up often in clindoc work, and the way they’re handled has a direct impact on both workflow and system use over time. Draegan Network: https://network.draegan.com