by
Barbara Kram, Editor | February 01, 2006
CHICAGO, February 1 -- The creation and maintenance of the data dictionary is pivotal to the success of an electronic health record (EHR) system, according to the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Standardizing data content and data definitions within provider organizations and the industry is an important driver to quality of care and patient safety.
"Information systems are only as good as their data. Standardization provides system developers with a common roadmap to promote consistency across applications," states Barbara Demster, MS, RHIA, Chief Compliance & Privacy Officer for Benchmark Consulting Services and member of the electronic health information management (e-HIM©) workgroup on EHR Data Content. "Without a mutually agreed-upon set of data elements with clearly defined names and definitions, the validity and reliability of the data contained in a system are suspect at best and must be discounted at worst."
In the February Journal of AHIMA, the Association releases its guidelines for developing a data dictionary. The e-HIM workgroup that developed the guidelines conducted a comparative study of data definitions at the field definition level in order to create guidelines to assist the industry in the development of data dictionaries. "The guidelines will assist in building data dictionaries at the organizational level, aid in the development of new and existing data content
standards, and support national standards harmonization efforts," adds Demster.
For the complete copy of "Guidelines for Developing a Data Dictionary," visit AHIMA's Web site at http://library.ahima.org/xpedio/groups/public/documents/ahima/bok1_030582.hcsp.
The e-HIM© workgroup was funded by the Foundation of Research and Education (FORE)through a grant from Dictaphone.
FORE provides financial and intellectual resources to sustain and recognize continuous innovation and advances in HIM for the betterment of the profession, healthcare, and the public. For more information about FORE, go to www.ahima.org/fore.
AHIMA is the premier association of HIM professionals. AHIMA's 50,000 members are dedicated to the effective management of personal health information needed to deliver quality healthcare to the public. Founded in 1928 to improve the quality of medical records, AHIMA is committed to advancing the HIM profession in an increasingly electronic and global environment through leadership in advocacy, education, certification, and lifelong learning. For information about the association, go to www.ahima.org.
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