This document discusses how real-world data can be used to better understand patient outcomes. It notes that legislation, technology advances, and a shift toward valuing outcomes over volume are accelerating the focus on using real-world data to determine what treatment approaches improve patient outcomes. The document outlines challenges to using real-world data like data quality issues and privacy concerns, and proposes strategies like using hybrid study designs that combine electronic medical record data with traditional clinical trial data collection to help overcome these challenges. Finally, it emphasizes that solutions in this area will need to be developed incrementally while protecting patient privacy and gaining regulatory acceptance.