The Beat

From Precision to Scale: Operationalizing Nuanced Care Models in a Rapidly Evolving Health Ecosystem with Charlie Harp

Episode Summary

AI on bad data is artificial stupidity. And healthcare can’t afford that. In this episode, Charlie Harp, CEO and founder of Clinical Architecture, explains why the future of healthcare depends on high-quality data. He describes how his company has spent 18 years refining the “plumbing” of healthcare information, ensuring that AI, clinical systems, and decision tools operate on accurate, trusted data. Charlie introduces the Patient Information Quality Improvement Framework (PIQI), an open-source collaboration with partners such as the VA and CMS, to measure and improve data quality across the industry. He emphasizes that true healthcare transformation will come not from disruption, but from consistent, data-driven evolution. Tune in and learn how improving healthcare’s “data plumbing” could unlock innovation, interoperability, and trust across the entire ecosystem.

Episode Notes

About Charlie Harp:

Charlie Harp is the CEO of Clinical Architecture, where he has led the company for over 16 years in its mission to revolutionize healthcare data quality and interoperability. Under his leadership, Clinical Architecture has become the industry’s leading provider of healthcare terminology management solutions, empowering organizations to enhance the accuracy, usability, and value of clinical data across systems. With deep expertise in electronic health records (EHR) and healthcare information systems, Charlie has spearheaded the development of cutting-edge software products and driven major initiatives in process improvement, project management, and data strategy—boosting efficiency and profitability across the organization.

Before founding and growing Clinical Architecture, Charlie held senior technology and leadership roles at First DataBank, Zynx Health, Medi-Span, Covance, and SmithKline Beecham Clinical Labs, where he consistently delivered innovative solutions that advanced healthcare IT infrastructure. Beyond his executive work, Charlie is a healthcare data quality evangelist and host of the Informonster Podcast, where he explores the evolving intersection of healthcare, technology, and data. A graduate of California State Polytechnic University–Pomona and the Hearst Management Institute, Charlie remains deeply committed to enhancing the healthcare ecosystem through improved data and advanced technology.

Things You’ll Learn:

• AI in healthcare is only as good as the data it’s trained on; poor data leads to dangerous outcomes and lost trust.
• The Patient Information Quality Improvement Framework (PIQI) aims to measure and improve healthcare data quality through an open-source, industry-wide standard.
• Data quality has a direct impact on everything from reimbursement accuracy to clinical decision-making and patient safety.
• Healthcare’s transformation won’t come from disruption but from gradual, data-driven evolution focused on interoperability and usability.
• Investing in data quality is like adopting a healthy lifestyle; it’s hard work, but the long-term benefits far outweigh the short-term effort.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Charlie Harp on LinkedIn.
• Follow Clinical Architecture on LinkedIn.
• Visit the Clinical Architecture website. 
• Listen to Charlie’s previous interview on the podcast here.
• Check out The Informonster Podcast here.