Electronic healthcare records and data quality

This paper is based on Victoria Charnock's MA dissertation carried out as part of her Masters in Leadership and Management in Healthcare at the University of Salford and supervised by Professor Hardiker. A review of current literature was conducted to provide a robust and dimensional definition of data quality in the field of health care. This was used as the basis on which to assess the effect that electronic health care records has had in practice, specifically on data quality and according to the dimensions of accuracy, completeness and use of data. All of the papers reviewed referred to the importance of accuracy and completeness, identifying the advantages of electronic health records in their use of standardized data entry controls. Drawing on the third dimension in the definition, use of data, the impact that system design may have on data quality and implications for staff training is further discussed and recommendations made. F.J.