Question

Why are data accessibility and data accuracy important to the providers and patients?

Answer 1

Sol.

Data accessibility refers to software and activities related to storing, retrieving and acting on data housed in a database or other things. Access to data is critical for the success of our business. Easily accessible data enables us to move , focus on the product, and build a data-informed culture where data leads to better decisions and action.There are two types fundamental of data access i.e:

1. sequential access
2. random access

Data accessibility involves authorization to access different data repositories. Data access can help distinguish the abilities of administrators and users. For example, administrators may have the ability to remove, edit and add data, while general users may not even have "read" rights if they lack access to particular information.

Data accuracy is one of the components of data quality. It defines to whether the data values stored for an object are the correct values. To be correct, a data values must be the right value and must be represented in a consistent and unambiguous form. There are two characteristics of accuracy: form and content. Form is important because it eliminates ambiguities about the content.

Accurate and complete data are critical for patient care but are also becoming increasingly important to support quality measurement for pay for performance initiatives. Data used to support clinical care and quality improvement must be comprehensive and as up-to-date as possible. Currently, medical practitioners and staff provide all documentation into EHRs. However, the result of this is that valuable medical information is often missing or out of date which may compromise patient care and quality measurement. Patients have the ability and incentive to report additional information, helping to create a more complete medical record. Nonetheless, few mechanisms currently exist to facilitate this information sharing.

Technology is easing the transition towards a more patient-centered healthcare model by providing a fast, convenient way for patients to access their records and electronically provide information to their physician’s office. A majority of patients surveyed online feel personal records offer the opportunity to provide doctors with useful information. Patients and physicians agree that patient access to medical records helps facilitate communication and patients’ understanding of their conditions.