This article provides an overview of the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model (OMOP-CDM), a standardized framework for converting complex and heterogeneous electronic medical record (EMR) data into a structured format. The OMOP-CDM simplifies data management and governance, enhances data security and privacy, and facilitates efficient and secure access to EMR data for health service providers and researchers. Through pseudonymisation and common data quality assessments, the OMOP-CDM ensures that data can be shared securely without direct data exchange, enhancing patient privacy. The adoption of the OMOP-CDM has been growing internationally, with approximately 12% of EMRs worldwide converted by 2022, covering 453 databases and over 928 million unique patient records across 41 countries. The model aligns with data quality standards and principles such as FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) and CARE (Collective benefit, Authority, Researcher, and Ethics), ensuring ethical and transparent data use. The article also discusses the challenges and limitations, such as the lack of seamless linkage between hospital and primary care data, and highlights the importance of ongoing collaboration and standardization in healthcare data governance. Overall, the OMOP-CDM offers a powerful tool for supporting ethical real-world research and improving healthcare outcomes.This article provides an overview of the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model (OMOP-CDM), a standardized framework for converting complex and heterogeneous electronic medical record (EMR) data into a structured format. The OMOP-CDM simplifies data management and governance, enhances data security and privacy, and facilitates efficient and secure access to EMR data for health service providers and researchers. Through pseudonymisation and common data quality assessments, the OMOP-CDM ensures that data can be shared securely without direct data exchange, enhancing patient privacy. The adoption of the OMOP-CDM has been growing internationally, with approximately 12% of EMRs worldwide converted by 2022, covering 453 databases and over 928 million unique patient records across 41 countries. The model aligns with data quality standards and principles such as FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) and CARE (Collective benefit, Authority, Researcher, and Ethics), ensuring ethical and transparent data use. The article also discusses the challenges and limitations, such as the lack of seamless linkage between hospital and primary care data, and highlights the importance of ongoing collaboration and standardization in healthcare data governance. Overall, the OMOP-CDM offers a powerful tool for supporting ethical real-world research and improving healthcare outcomes.