Cleaning up data for NPfIT
Cambridge-based Datanomic is offering a range of software tools for
NHS trusts to help them prepare the large amount of data required for
the information systems supplied by the National Programme for IT (NPfIT).
The company’s data-quality solutions or ‘data detox’ process, works at
all levels across the NHS.
For example, a NPfIT project manager working in an NHS trust holding
300,000 patient records may be required to supply the local service
provider with data that is accurate, complete and fit for purpose. This
could demand up to nine months of trawling through each record,
validating specified criteria against other records — NHS number, for
example, or name, address or date of birth. The process could cost a
trust up to £80,000.
By comparison, the implementation of Datanomics software could result
in much of the process being automated, making it more cost effective
and potentially more reliable.
Typical areas which would benefit from automation are:
- identifying missing NHS numbers, duplicates and nulls;
- inaccurate numbers and errors; and
- the validation of entries against other systems within the
trust.
Colm Creagh, who looks after health and government on behalf of
Datanomics, says: “The process is not fully automated, however. We look
at the business rules of a particular customer and then work the
necessary requirements into the software. The process is tailored to
different people’s needs.”
He adds: “It’s crucial that data is clean for auditing purposes. In
the case of PCTs, for example, the whole payment system to GPs’
surgeries is based on data.”
Source: bjhc&im October 2005
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