Building Data Research Resources from Existing Data Sets Model for Integrating Patient Data to Form Core Data Set

ontaining health care costs and improving allow policy staff to develop methods for adthe effectiveness of care are todays leadjusting aggregate data by severity and risk de ing health issues Although there is uncerscriptors and address public health issues such tainty as to the extent of the current restructuring as access to care of this countrys health care system there is con siderable agreement regarding the need for autoUtilizing data for an array of purposes raises mated longitudinal patient data that describe both many questions regarding what data are needed by an individuals demographic characteristics and the whom and in what format Different levels of detail site process cost quality and outcomes of care are required for patient care research health policy Such data are needed to analyze which procedures public health issues such as access health care orare efficient and produce satisfactory patient outganizations internal accountability and continuous comes In our rapidly changing health care system quality improvement CQI and for review of cOsts this information is necessary for decision-making and quality across provider institutions Detailed paby practitioners policymakers health plans contient-level data are needed for care while aggregate sumers and patients data by provider type may suffice for some policy questions Detailed data by well-defined patient sub In response to the critical need for information groups are needed for research studies of the care recent efforts are focused on computerized patient process and outcomes records and health information services It is an ticipated that computerized patient records will Currently several efforts are focusing on the de serve multiple purposes They will improve patient velopment of computerized patient records systems care by eliminating redundant data collection and health data networks and health care information providing more facile access to patients history infrastructure However there does not appear to Computerized paper records and health data sysbe an identifiable locus of authority responsible for tems will provide data to guiding these efforts so that data will be usable across health care entities for care research and