CASE STUDY: Implementing an Enterprise Data Governance Framework for a Leading Healthcare Alliance

Introduction

When a healthcare organization invests in a new data platform to modernize operations, a strong data governance program is not optional — it’s critical. Without clear policies on data ownership, quality, access, and security, the organization risks undermining the potential benefits from implementing the new data platform. A strong data governance framework ensures data is trustworthy, compliant, and actionable. This enables organizations to fully realize the value of modernization efforts to drive better clinical, financial, and operational decisions.

This case study describes the design and implementation of a comprehensive, enterprise-wide data governance program performed by Axis Technical Group for a leading healthcare alliance. This program is integral to the client’s Enterprise Data Platform and Master Data Management (MDM) initiatives.

Challenge

This healthcare alliance faced several pressing challenges that led to the decision to implement a new data governance framework. First, the legacy data governance structure was based on older technologies and data structures. This made it difficult to effectively assign ownership roles, enforce standards, or consistently manage and share data across departments. Without a centralized approach, data discovery, classification, lineage tracking, and security controls were fragmented and unreliable, creating blind spots and increasing operational risk.

Additionally, the organization must meet strict federal compliance requirements, specifically NIST 800-171 and FISMA standards, critical for safeguarding sensitive information, including Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). As the organization grew rapidly, its existing tools and processes could not be scaled to handle the increased complexity, heightened security demands, or audit expectations. This lack of governance infrastructure put its compliance posture and broader modernization goals at risk, making a robust, scalable data governance program an urgent priority.

Solution

This project was completed in two phases as described below.

Phase 1: Initial Data Assessment

The team conducted a full data assessment of the client’s environment to understand the current state and identify gaps. Following this assessment, the Axis Technical Group team delivered a comprehensive Data Assessment Document that outlined several critical components:

• An updated charter and organizational structure to support governance efforts.
• Clear identification of data owners across all departments.
• A framework and roadmap for improving data quality, establishing data policies, and setting data protection standards.

The document also included the identification and categorization of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and a detailed timeline to guide the phased rollout of the new governance program.

Phase 2: Data Flow and Middleware Development

During this phase, the team moved into full Data Governance implementation. They deployed and configured industry-leading tools, including the Alation Enterprise Data Catalog, to enable enterprise-wide data discovery, lineage mapping, and policy management. For data security and access controls, they implemented either Privacera, a cloud data governance and security platform, or Thales CipherTrust, a data protection and encryption platform, depending on client needs.

A fully compliant security framework was built to align with NIST 800-171 and FISMA standards. In parallel, the team designed and deployed critical governance assets, including a Data Dictionary, Business Glossary, and Data Catalog. They also implemented real-time audit capabilities and reporting tools to support internal governance tracking and external compliance requirements. Comprehensive training programs and detailed training guides were prepared to help ensure the program would be implemented and maintained appropriately. This empowered the client’s teams to own and manage governance processes moving forward.

Key Deliverables

Upon project completion, the following reports and output was delivered to the client as a way to help ensure continued success and results from this data governance project:

• Comprehensive Tool Documentation, including Testing Plans, Audit Results, and Training Materials.
• Weekly Data Catalog, Data Dictionary, and CUI Compliance Reports.
• Formal Job Run Schedules and Warranty Support Plans, ensuring smooth transition and post-implementation success.

Results

After this project, this healthcare alliance is now capturing many benefits from its enterprise-wide data governance program that was successfully implemented across all platforms and departments, including:

• Improved data quality, security, and compliance with regulatory standards.
• Accelerated data access and trust across business units via the new Data Catalog.
• Reduced risk exposure through consistent, organization-wide security controls and audit readiness.

Further, this data governance framework has well-positioned the organization for future AI/ML initiatives by establishing a reliable data foundation.

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