Measuring disparities in information capture timeliness across healthcare settings: effects on data quality.
The emergence of evidence-based medicine in the United States has created an industry-wide environment where the quality of data maintained by healthcare organizations is becoming a critical factor in the delivery of medical care. Such a transition necessitates a corresponding need for consistent data collection and maintenance methods. In this study results of a national survey of health information managers were used to assess prevalence of a standard data quality practice, the adoption of policies related to timeliness of data capture. Findings from this survey show that, on a national level, only a slight majority of respondents indicated adoption of timeliness policies. About 61% of respondents indicate they have policies and procedures addressing data timeliness, although persistent patterns of nonadoption were found. We examine how the timeliness of data collection might serve as part of an overall data collection strategy that managers can employ to improve the quality of their information.
Lorence
Daniel
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Department of Health Policy and Administration & School of Information Science and Technology, The Pennsylvania State University, P.O. Box 1154, State College, Pennsylvania 16801, USA. dpl10@psu.edu
D003625:Data Collection / Q000592:standards*; D005568:Forms and Records Control / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D019981:Health Care Sector; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006268:Health Facilities; D006801:Humans; D019451:Information Management / Q000592:standards*; D007256:Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D008497:Medical Record Administrators; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000592:standards; D016134:Organizational Policy; D013995:Time; D014481:United States