Over the past few years, healthcare organizations have recognized the need for data governance. Regulations like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) have imposed electronic record retention requirements on the industry.
In addition, the volume of electronic medical files has exploded as diagnostic information like X-rays and MRIs are digitized and patient data transformed into electronically stored information (ESI).
Some industry experts have suggested that the volume of data generated in healthcare is growing 25 to 50 percent every year. Healthcare organizations are also subject to numerous lawsuits. Information that has been archived must be immediately available on request for litigation support and legal eDiscovery. Ease of access is essential.