Abstract:
This paper reports on the "data salvage" steps that were required to extract usable operational information from the electronic data capture systems of four New Zealand hospital Emergency Departments (EDs). Methods The National Primary Medical Care Survey (NatMedCa), carried out over 2001/02, was a national survey of ambulatory care. The dominant component was a nationally representative sample of general practitioners (GPs) and their patients. A sample of four EDs spread across New Zealand was also drawn. Each ED was asked to report on all their patients during four (Monday to Sunday) weeks of the year in 2001. This information was contributed by the four EDs from their electronic data capture systems covering a total of 15,655 visits over the four weeks. Results A list of variables was requested from each ED for the purpose of the survey, but not all of these variables were provided. The data dumps received from the four EDs involved were all formatted differently, often with different variable names for the same items, and data for some of the requested variables were often either partially or completely missing. An ad hoc process was developed and performed on the four data sets in order to identify the core variables from the data provided, edit these for clarity and comparability, and code them as required. Conclusions There are substantial difficulties in comparing data across EDs, and between EDs and community-based ambulatory care. The principal problem is the lack of a common, usable template across EDs for the capture of data on core clinical and related variables. A further issue is the coding of such data. Adopting standardised coding systems would greatly assist in understanding the dynamics of ambulatory care across different modalities.