Data refers to raw small facts and information that have no context. Data is categorized as quantitative or qualitative. Quantitative data is numeric, mostly the result of a count, measurement, or a mathematical calculation, for example, 5, 25, or 345. On the other hand, qualitative data is descriptive for example green (Keogh, 2018). Data is not that helpful on its own. Therefore, it needs to have a context to be useful. Information refers to data that has been given context. A Database refers to an organized collection of associated information (Keogh, 2018). All data in a database is defined and related to other data. Thus, all information in a database should be associated. Individual databases should be established to manage distinct information (Keogh, 2018). Databases are organized in various methods and therefore take several forms.
Databases are used in healthcare to routinely enter clinical and laboratory data. They are also used to promote clear, consistent storage of vital patient data such as demographics, admissions, length of stay, status at discharge, medical diagnoses, procedures, and healthcare costs (Mahmudova, 2019). Databases in healthcare enhance interactions between patients and healthcare providers. Besides, they support diagnosis and treatment, managing documentation and billing, and reducing errors in clinical operations and management.
An example of a local healthcare database is the electronic health record (EHR), used to enter routine patient’s clinical and laboratory data during practice to serve as a record of the patient’s care (Gliklich et al., 2019). A statewide database includes CarePrecise Texas, which contains basic information on all HIPAA-covered healthcare providers and organizations in Texas. A nationally utilized database includes the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), which collects statistics from various state data organizations to build a national information resource of patient-level data.
References
Gliklich, R. E., Leavy, M. B., & Dreyer, N. A. (2019). Tools and Technologies for Registry Interoperability, Registries for Evaluating Patient Outcomes: A User’s Guide, Addendum 2 [Internet].
Keogh, J. (2018). Data and Databases. In Need-to-Know Technologies for a Successful Future (pp. 133-164). De| G Press. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781547400812-005
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