Aspects of data quality in the new millennium

A major topic of concern for the health information management (HIM) professional today is the quality of health care data. Although the coding professional within the HIM department has responsibility for assigning accurate clinical codes, often there are discrepancies or areas that need improvement. What ways are in place now to ensure quality clinical data? Quality programs and projects that can lead us into the next millennium are important to the HIM profession, administrators, health care payers, and state agencies. The challenges that we face are not without solutions. Sharing information and solutions is important for the individual and the profession as a whole. The article discusses four current but different ways in which data quality is looked at and addressed.