Emily L. Graham, RHIA, CCS-P, ASCRS/ASOA Associate Director, Regulatory Affairs

Data are defined as the dates, numbers, images, symbols, letters, and words that represent basic facts and observations about people, processes, measurements, and conditions. A data element is an individual fact or measurement that is the smallest unique subset of a database. The word “data” is often used in conjunction with other words like accuracy, granularity, etc. These additional data-terms are defined below.

· Data accuracy is the extent to which data are free of identifiable errors.

· Data availability is the extent to which data are accessible whenever and wherever they are needed.

· Data comprehensiveness is the extent to which health care data re complete.

· Data consistency is the extent to which healthcare data are reliable.

· Data currency is the extent to which data are up-to-date.

· Data granularity is the level of detail at which the attributes and values of healthcare data are described

· Data integrity is the extent to which healthcare data are complete, accurate, consistent, and timely. It is also a security principle that keeps information from being modified or otherwise corrupted either maliciously or accidentally.Data precision is the extent to which data has the values they are expected to have.

· Data relevancy is the extent to which healthcare-related data re useful for the purpose for which they were collected.

Labels: consistency, currency, data relevancy, granularity, Health Information Technology, HIT, integrity