Processing medical records: data related problems

Computer processing of medical data can sometimes give a poor result. This can be due to several reasons. First, medical data may be heterogeneous, sometimes inacurate and often subjective. Secondly, the complex process of codification, data capture and validation is rarely carried out as carefully as possible. Finally, the processing itself can be the cause of some inaccuracy when it does not correspond to the defined objectives for which the data have been collected.