Title: Assessment of data quality management as an organisational function: implications for evidence-based medicine

Authors: Daniel P. Lorence, Michael C. Richards

Addresses: Dept. of Health Policy and Administration, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16801, USA. Community Development Services, Chicago, IL 60654-0311, USA

Abstract: The incorporation of medical information systems into the day-today practice of medicine is creating greater dependence on adequate functioning of such systems, as they become more frequently used as a clinical complement in the practice of medicine. Assessing the quality and performance of data systems becomes of increasing importance, as the imposition of government data management requirements and the growing adoption of evidence-based medicine combine to cause fundamental changes in the delivery of healthcare services. The quality of data maintained by many organisations is rapidly becoming a critical factor in the ultimate delivery of service, where a need for a designated, well-defined focal point for the management of data becoming paramount. This study examines, on a nationwide basis, variation in reported adoption of the data quality management function within healthcare organisations.

Keywords: evidence-based; data; quality; information; management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHTM.2002.001150

International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management, 2002 Vol.4 No.5, pp.381-393

Published online: 01 Jul 2003 *

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