In: Nursing
The amount of electronic patient data is enormous. As long as it is deidentified (i.e., you cannot tell who the patient was), debate the following:
Do you think this data should be used to learn about diseases, outbreaks, patterns, etc.? Please elaborate on your answers.
How do you perceive this data to be of value?
In what ways do you think it should be used?
Who should extract the data?
Who should be responsible for studying the data to determine what can be learnt from it?
Yes electronic data can be used to learn about disease, outbreak, pattern etc.
It is very valuable as a quick access to the information needed is available, avoiding a long tiring paper search
It help to know the rise and fall of a particular disease, identify the risk factors, know exact which management was effective, know different statistical data. All these can be helpful to better know a particular disease or risk factor helping to develop measures to get rid of it or minimize human risks.
This data can also be used to know the incidence and prevelance rate, to study the effectiveness of a treatment or medication, making necessary improvement.
Incharge medical assistant should extract the data, after completing the necessary procedure prior to handling the data to other health care personel or researcher.
The incharge medical assistant and the hospital committee is responsible to determine what can be learnt from the data. Patient identification may be kept hidden, if disclosed prior permission of patient is needed.