Learning health systems, embedded research, and data standards—recommendations for healthcare system leaders

Learning health systems that conduct embedded research require infrastructure for the seamless adoption of clinical interventions; this infrastructure should integrate with electronic health record (EHR) systems and enable the use of existing data. As purchasers of EHR systems, and as critical partners, sponsors, and consumers of embedded research, healthcare organizations should advocate for EHR system functionality and data standards that will increase the capacity for embedded research in clinical settings. As stakeholders and proponents for EHR data standards, healthcare leaders should support standards development and promote local adoption to support quality healthcare, continuous improvement, innovative data-driven interventions, and the generation of new knowledge. “Standards-enabled” health systems will be positioned to address emergent and critical research questions, including those related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and future public health threats. The role of a data standards officer or champion could enable health systems to realize this goal.