--- title: Dealing with Dirty Data description: Learn what dirty data is and how and why you should keep it clean! This could be very important for your healthcare facility so don't miss this. image: https://www.syntrixconsulting.com/hubfs/Blog-Images/Dealing_with_Dirty_Data.jpg --- [![Syntrix Logo](https://www.syntrixconsulting.com/hubfs/Syntrix%20Logo.svg)](https://www.syntrixconsulting.com) - [ABOUT US](https://www.syntrixconsulting.com/about-us) - [SOLUTIONS](https://www.syntrixconsulting.com/solutions) - [BLOG](https://www.syntrixconsulting.com/blog) - [RESOURCES](https://www.syntrixconsulting.com/resources) - [CONTACT US](https://www.syntrixconsulting.com/contact-us) [Schedule a Call](https://www.syntrixconsulting.com/contact-us) # Dealing with Dirty Data Learn what dirty data is and how and why you should keep it clean! This could be very important for your healthcare facility so don't miss this. [Ron Stephenson](https://www.syntrixconsulting.com/blog/author/ron-stephenson) Sep 2, 2016 --- ![dirty data](https://www.syntrixconsulting.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog-Images/Dealing_with_Dirty_Data.jpg?width=300&name=Dealing_with_Dirty_Data.jpg "dirty data")The use of **[analytics in healthcare](https://www.syntrixconsulting.com/blog/how-healthcare-analytics-improves-quality-of-patient-care)** is on the rise with the emergence of big data, but it requires accurate and complete data. According to research firm **[TDWI](https://tdwi.org/TDWI/TDWI-Upside/Articles/2016/06/08/Data-Quality-Dark-Ages.aspx)**, many businesses have issues with the quality of their data because it is incomplete, incorrect, inaccurate and inconsistent. These errors are often due to user mistakes including duplicate entries, misspelling, wrong punctuation and missing information. This “dirty data” decreases the ability of healthcare organizations to utilize business intelligence and analytics platforms to accurately analyze data and measure results. Though dirty data is common due to misleading, non-integrated and invalid data, healthcare organizations are especially plagued by it because of a lack of standardized product information. Dirty data in healthcare also is generated by a lack of generalized formatting, problems incurred during data migration processes, overlaps and overlays and even identity fraud, resulting in unreliable data and a reduced quality of patient care. Consider the following statistics: - Dirty data costs U.S. companies approximately **[$600 billion](http://searchcrm.techtarget.com/definition/dirty-data)** annually.  - Duplicate and bad data combined cost the U.S. economy more than $**[3 trillion](https://www.ringlead.com/blog/dirty-data-costs-economy-3-trillion/)** annually. - Inaccurate data has a direct impact on the bottom line of **[88](http://www.business2community.com/marketing/much-dirty-data-costing-01241847#wtm3eJR1Q6v7Y95I.97)** percent of companies, with the average company losing 12 percent of its revenue. TDWI recently conducted a **[study](http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/news/worries-about-data-quality-put-pressure-on-it-pros)** in which 86 percent of its respondents noted they aren’t fully satisfied with the quality of their data. Almost 96 percent of those respondents also aren’t satisfied with the processes they have in place to address data duplication. ### **Keeping it Clean** Cleaning data and keeping it clean can prevent costly mistakes. This can be done by establishing a data management strategy, promoting data discipline to clinicians, utilizing big data algorithms, performing regular maintenance, reducing or eliminating duplicate records, updating IT systems and performing data scrubbing. Data scrubbing involves filtering, detecting, decoding, translating and correcting data to make it clean or normalized. Clean, high quality data benefits healthcare organizations through: - Increased customer satisfaction and efficiency; - Decreased time spent on reconciling data; - Reduced costs and increased revenues; - More consistent data; - Single version of truth; - Greater confidence in using the data; - Higher user adoption rates for [healthcare analytic solutions](https://www.syntrixconsulting.com/healthcare-data-analytics) sourcing the data; - Increased confidence in analytics systems.   ### **Learn More** Ensuring that healthcare data remains comprehensive, accurate and current is not a function relegated to developers alone. At Syntrix Consulting, our certified consultants can work with you to utilize data management programs that are designed to ensure data integrity in [healthcare business intelligence](https://www.syntrixconsulting.com/healthcare-business-intelligence) solutions. **[Contact us](https://www.syntrixconsulting.com/contact-us)** today for a free consultation. For more information about **[Epic reporting and how to have a successful implementation](https://www.syntrixconsulting.com/steps-for-a-successful-transition-to-epic-reporting)**, download our FREE eBook: [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/300899/e13ea190-810d-4721-9848-71f9a833698c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/300899/e13ea190-810d-4721-9848-71f9a833698c) ## Similar posts ### [Hadoop for the Healthcare Industry](https://www.syntrixconsulting.com/blog/hadoop-for-the-healthcare-industry) Learn what Hadoop is and how it can benefit the healthcare industry. Don't miss out on something that could really help your facility. Ron Stephenson Aug 30, 2016 ### [Understanding Unstructured Data (Part One)](https://www.syntrixconsulting.com/blog/understanding-unstructured-data-part-one) Learn all about unstructured data and how you can organize all of the data into your healthcare analytic tools. Ron Stephenson Jul 12, 2016 ### [Understanding Unstructured Data (Part Two)](https://www.syntrixconsulting.com/blog/understanding-unstructured-data-part-two) Truly getting to know what unstructured data is and how it can be used and organized in your healthcare facility can play a huge roll in your... Ron Stephenson Jul 13, 2016 ### Stay on the leading edge of Healthcare Analytics Discover new ways to enhance and optimize your data analytics function using the most advanced tools and industry knowledge available today. [![Syntrix Logo Final-2-03](https://www.syntrixconsulting.com/hubfs/Syntrix%20Images%202020/Syntrix%20Logo%20Final-2-03.png)](https://www.syntrixconsulting.com/blog/dealing-with-dirty-data#home) Syntrix Consulting Group, LLC 15720 Brixham Ave, Suite 300, Charlotte, NC 28277 ### Navigation - [About us](https://www.syntrixconsulting.com/about-us) - [Blog](https://www.syntrixconsulting.com/blog) - [Solutions](https://www.syntrixconsulting.com/solutions) - [Resources](https://www.syntrixconsulting.com/resources) ### Contact Us - [Submit Inquiry](https://www.syntrixconsulting.com/contact-us) - info@syntrixconsulting.com - 877-796-8749 © 2024 Syntrix Consulting Group, LLC | Healthcare Analytics Experts | [Privacy Policy](https://www.syntrixconsulting.com/privacy-policy) [Powered by Atlas - a B2B SaaS HubSpot theme](https://www.kalungi.com/atlas-hubspot-theme-for-b2b-saas-software) ![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=4567348&fmt=gif)