title: Small rural emergency services can electronically collect accurate episode-level data: A cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is little evidence that useful electronic data could be collected at Australian small rural emergency services. If in future their funding model changed to the Activity-Based Funding model, then they would need to collect and submit more data. We determine whether it is possible to collect episode-level data at six small rural emergency services and quantify the accuracy of eight fields.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  South-West Victoria, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six small rural emergency services.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected and audited episode-level emergency data from participating services between 1 February 2011 and 31 January 2012. A random sample of these data were audited monthly. Research assistants located at each service supported data entry and audited data accuracy for four hours per week.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rates for data completeness, accuracy and total accuracy were calculated using audit data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Episode-level data were collected for 20 224 presentations across six facilities. The audit dataset consisted of 8.5% (1504/17 627) of presentations from five facilities. For all fields audited, the accuracy of entered data was high (>93%).Triage category was deemed appropriate for 95.9% (95% confidence interval (CI): 94.9-96.9%) of the patient records reviewed. Some procedures were missing (28.7%, 95%CI: 27.2-30.3%). No significant improvement in data accuracy over 12 months was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All six services collected useful episode-level data for 12-months with four hours per week of assistance. Data entry accuracy was high for all fields audited, and data entry completeness was low for procedures.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Rural Emergency Medicine, Deakin University, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Samantha L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salzman
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D000068598:Data Accuracy; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014739:Victoria
keywords: Rural Emergency Department; data accuracy; data audit; electronic medical record; episode-level data