Question 1

What is data governance in healthcare?

Accepted Answer

Data governance in healthcare is the framework of policies, processes, roles, and standards that ensure healthcare data is accurate, secure, accessible to authorised users, and compliant with regulations such as HIPAA. It covers data classification, ownership, quality management, retention, access controls, and lineage tracking across the entire data lifecycle.

Question 2

Why is data governance critical for healthcare AI?

Accepted Answer

AI models are only as good as the data they are trained and operated on. Poor data governance leads to biased training datasets, inconsistent model inputs, and unreliable outputs that can harm patients and create liability. A robust data governance framework is the foundation that makes trustworthy healthcare AI possible.

Question 3

How does data governance relate to HIPAA compliance?

Accepted Answer

HIPAA requires covered entities and business associates to implement administrative, physical, and technical safeguards for protected health information (PHI). A data governance framework operationalises these requirements by establishing who owns PHI, how it is classified, who can access it, how long it is retained, and how breaches are detected and reported.