Using Health System Data for Improvement Science: Charting Progress

摘要

Health care systems in general and electronic health records (EHRs) in particular serve as repositories for data that reflect the safety and quality of care delivery. These data are collected and reviewed by nurses and other members of quality improvement (QI) teams to identify areas of opportunity for improvement. As care providers, we have the ability to improve patient care and care-related outcomes, and that ability hinges on data and our proficiency in interpreting data accurately. National benchmarking organizations have evolved to facilitate comparison of data across institutions, reporting the extent to which health care systems meet or fall short of established standards for safety and quality (Table I). Examples of these organizations include the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators, which monitors falls and pressure injury data, and the National Healthcare Safety Network, which monitors infection-related data. However, the nature of EHR data presents a challenge for meaningful interpretation. The volume, complexity (multiplicity in data definitions and inconsistencies in data standards), and inaccessibility of much of the data entered into the EHR renders interpretation an arduous and difficult task.