This User’s Guide is intended to support the design, implementation, analysis, interpretation, and quality evaluation of registries created to increase understanding of patient outcomes. For the purposes of this guide, a patient registry is an organized system that uses observational study methods to collect uniform data (clinical and other) to evaluate specified outcomes for a population defined by a particular disease, condition, or exposure, and that serves one or more predetermined scientific, clinical, or policy purposes. A registry database is a file (or files) derived from the registry. Although registries can serve many purposes, this guide focuses on registries created for one or more of the following purposes: to describe the natural history of disease, to determine clinical effectiveness or cost-effectiveness of health care products and services, to measure or monitor safety and harm, and/or to measure quality of care. Registries are classified according to how their populations are defined. For example, product registries include patients who have been exposed to biopharmaceutical products or medical devices. Health services registries consist of patients who have had a common procedure, clinical encounter, or hospitalization. Disease or condition registries are defined by patients having the same diagnosis, such as cystic fibrosis or heart failure. The User’s Guide was created by researchers affiliated with AHRQ’s Effective Health Care Program, particularly those who participated in AHRQ’s DEcIDE (Developing Evidence to Inform Decisions About Effectiveness) program. Chapters were subject to multiple internal and external independent reviews.

A compilation of both landmark historic and contemporary papers, illustrating the inception and evolution of nursing informatics. The authors have assembled the papers into an invaluable source book providing a framework for future developments in the field. Examining the relationship between nursing and information systems, practical applications include administration, practice, research, education, critical care, and community health. An essential tool for nurses seeking to attain credentials as Nursing Informatics Specialists.

Regional health care databases are being established around the country with the goal of providing timely and useful information to policymakers, physicians, and patients. But their emergence is raising important and sometimes controversial questions about the collection, quality, and appropriate use of health care data. Based on experience with databases now in operation and in development, Health Data in the Information Age provides a clear set of guidelines and principles for exploiting the potential benefits of aggregated health dataâ€"without jeopardizing confidentiality. A panel of experts identifies characteristics of emerging health database organizations (HDOs). The committee explores how HDOs can maintain the quality of their data, what policies and practices they should adopt, how they can prepare for linkages with computer-based patient records, and how diverse groups from researchers to health care administrators might use aggregated data. Health Data in the Information Age offers frank analysis and guidelines that will be invaluable to anyone interested in the operation of health care databases.

This volume brings together experts in the fields of information ethics and health care to explore the impactions of these challenges as they impact what kind of care will be available, who will receive health care, and how the care is monitored.

Provides foundational knowledge and understanding of the implementation and use of electronic health records (EHRs)Explains the system design life cycle of an electronic health record implementationProvides methods for evaluating patient and population health outcomesNumerous appendices provide supporting material and examples including a project timeline, workflow process map, and test script examples This comprehensive reference provides foundational knowledge on electronic health records (EHRs) for the delivery of quality nursing care. Chapters cover descriptions of EHR components and functions, federal regulations within the HITECH Act, privacy and security considerations, interfaces and interoperability, design, building, testing, implementation, maintenance and evaluating outcomes. Key reference for nurse executives, nurse directors, nurse managers, advanced practice nurses, nurse researchers, nurse educators, and nurse informaticists. Foreword by: W. Ed Hammond, Ph.D., FACMI, FAIMBE, FHL7, FIMIA