The Development of a Health Data Quality Programme

Data quality requirements are increasing as a wider range of data becomes available and the technology to mine data shows the value of data that is “fit for use.” This chapter describes a data quality programme for the New Zealand Ministry of Health that first isolates the criteria that define “fitness” and then develops a framework as the basis of a health sector-wide data quality strategy that aligns with the sector’s existing strategies and policies for the use of health information. The framework development builds on existing work by the Canadian Institute for Health Information, and takes into account current data quality literature and recognised total data quality management (TDQM) principles. Strategy development builds upon existing policy and strategy within the New Zealand health sector, a review of customer requirements, current sector maturity and adaptability, and current literature to provide a practical strategy that offers clear guidelines for action. The chapter ends with a summary of key issues that can be employed by health care organisations to develop their own successful data quality improvement programmes.