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Accessing Data for QI

As adoption of EHRs has increased, so have the concerns about ability to access the data needed to drill down into quality improvement efforts or even reporting requirements. Depending on the type of system being used, data may be cloud based, on a remote server, or on a local server. Further, data may be accessible through preprogrammed, ad hoc, or custom reports, but there may be greater challenges to accessing raw data or data that can be analyzed for quality improvement purposes. Resources in this section address these challenges and provide actionable information for accessing the data needed.

Accessing your Data
Data Dictionary Tool and Template
HITEQ Center
/ Categories: EHR Selection and Implementation, EHR Implementation, Health IT Enabled QI, Accessing Data for QI, Improving Performance, Population Health, Using Data for PHM and SDH

Data Dictionary Tool and Template

Organizational tool for your EHR and analytics platform data indicators

This Data Dictionary provides a single point of reference for data mapping and interpretation for all of the indicators in your quality reports. Organization of the data definitions in this tool provides a reference for the team of all such definitions that impact reports and alerts in the analytics application. For example, it provides a format to document all items in a given report, and related EHR data. That application may be the EHR or an analytics platform that is tied to the EHR. Anyone with questions about where data is being pulled from for any indicator can reference the Data Dictionary without analyst security privileges or expertise within the analytics tools. The Data Dictionary should be curated by analysts and made available on a shared drive or company intranet.

Download the Excel tool below to see a full example and additional instructions. 

Also, see the companion Quality Report Inventory tool here.

Documents to download

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Tags: EHR quality improvement data analytics Excel Excel Tool Quality Reports Mapping Data Dictionary
Intended AudienceEHR, IT, and QI Staff; Clinical Quality Team members looking for ways to communicate data to their team and other stakeholders

Related Resources

Acknowledgements

This resource collection was compiled by the HITEQ Center staff with guidance from HITEQ Advisory Committee members and collaborators of the HITEQ Center.

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Improving the U.S. health care system requires four aims: improving the experience of care, improving the health of populations, reducing per capita costs and improving care team well-being. HITEQ Center resources seek to provide content and direction aligned with the goals of the Quadruple Aim

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