Procedures That Help Ensure Data Integrity, Research Paper Example

According to A Guide for Using Data for Health Care, “Collecting and analyzing data are central to the function of quality improvement in any health service.” Nowadays this is everyone’s concern in a health care setting. Quality data is not only needed for research but also for quality improvement. Knowing this, the place where I work, one of several outpatient extensions of the hospital in my city, is careful to preserve the integrity of our data. With this in mind, everyone who deals with an outpatient for any reason must immediately record that on the patient’s chart. Great emphasis is placed on being certain that this information gets on to the correct patient’s chart. Then, as soon as opportunity presents itself, this information is transferred into the information technology system. The patient’s data is kept confidential. To ensure this, it is not left lying around for passersby to see. We also need to have data integrity with respect to what procedures (e.g., dressing changes, stitches removed) were performed, by whom (name and credentials), how long the procedure took, how long the patient had to wait to be attended to, and whether there were any insufficient stretchers, supplies, and/or medical staff. This data, when entered into the computer is backed up, but hard copies are still kept for a certain period of time in case of electronic glitches and also for verification of data that may be queried.

At our clinic we attempt to get the patients to trust us with the accuracy and confidentiality of the information that they share and, therefore, they more fully and accurately disclose pertinent information. If patients get access to their health records, which they should according to HIPAA rule, they can check for accuracy; and if inaccuracies are found draw them to the health care provider’s attention. We let our patients know that our facility and its contents are secure. (The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information).

References

A Guide for Using Data for Health Care Quality Improvement. Retrieved on February 14, 2013, from http://www.health.gov/sites/default.

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information. Retrieved on February 14, 2013, from http://www.health.gov/sites/default.