A Framework and Standardized Methodology for Developing Minimum Clinical Datasets

The concept of the minimum dataset (MDS) is taking on an increasingly important role in healthcare. In the current environment of health information exchange and universal implementation of electronic health records, work related to the development of one specific type of MDS, the minimum clinical dataset (MCDS), is beginning to permeate the literature. While there is currently no unified definition of either an MDS or an MCDS, an MDS is generally agreed to be a coherent set of explicitly defined data elements. Despite the growing body of literature on MCDSs, very little empirical evidence exists in the literature related to best methods for developing them. The primary objective of the current study is to fill this gap. By presenting a streamlined approach to the development of MCDSs the current study attempts to provide individuals and organizations with a coherent methodology and framework for developing a high quality MCDS.