Improving and Using Electronic Health Records (EHRs) Data for Quality Improvement (QI)

Resource: Capturing High Quality Electronic Health Records Data to Support Performance Improvement (PDF, 2.3 MB, 73 pages)

This learning guide explains how to improve electronic health record (EHR) data quality to stimulate practice quality improvement, an aspect of Key Driver 3: Optimize health information systems to extract data and support use of evidence in practice. Harnessing lessons learned from 17 demonstration communities, the guide identifies key components for health information technology (IT) implementation, including identifying leaders to guide quality improvement measures, choosing measures, and setting goals—an important aspect of Key Driver 2: Implement a data-driven quality improvement process to integrate evidence into practice procedures, availability of necessary resources, and sustainability to continue quality improvement initiatives. Sections of this document include:

• Background.
• Setting the Stage for Success.
• Lessons from Beacon Communities:
  • Implementation Objective #1: Identify and Engage Physician Champions and Stakeholders and Jointly Develop Vendor Engagement Strategy.
  • Implementation Objective #2: Identify Measures, Identify and Map Data Elements, and Conduct Initial Data Quality Review.
  • Implementation Objective #3: Develop and Implement EHR Data Quality Improvement Activities.
  • Lessons Learned from the Data Quality Improvement Plan Development and Implementation.
  • Implementation Objective #4: Establish Process To Continuously Monitor EHR Data Quality and Resolve Data Quality Issues.
• Looking Ahead.

Institution of origin: The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology

Acknowledgements: This Learning Guide was developed by the Beacon Nation Project.

Publication date: July 2013