New catalogue on health info

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA)  today published a comprehensive catalogue of where to access health information.

It says the catalogue will increase awareness about the purpose and ../content of these sources and how data can be accessed. The publication of the catalogue will also identify any gaps or inconsistencies in health information, according to HIQA.

The catalogue lists sources such as BreastCheck; the Hospital Inpatient Enquiry system (HIPE); immunisation statistics; the Primary Care Reimbursement Scheme that runs the medical card scheme scheme; the national renal transplant registry and many more. It gives details of each source, including how it publishes its information, whether it is published and where it is published.
 
Professor Jane Grimson, Director of Health Information with the Authority said it is estimated that up to 30% of the total health budget may be spent one way or another on handling information, collecting it, looking for it, storing it. 

"It is therefore imperative that information is managed in the most effective way possible in order to ensure a high quality, safe service.”
 
She pointed out, however, that the current information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure in Ireland’s health and social care sector is highly fragmented, with major gaps which prevent the safe, effective transfer of information.

"This results in unnecessary duplication and the waste of valuable resources. There is an urgent need to develop an integrated approach to health information based on standards and best practice that will equip patients and providers with reliable and accurate information to make choices. 

"The publication of this catalogue is a step towards the development of these standards and is part of the ongoing work of the Authority," Prof Grimson said.

She said health information has a key role to play in healthcare planning decisions - where to locate a new service, whether or not to introduce a new national screening programme and decisions on best value for money in health and social care provision.

"The catalogue is an important step in ensuring everyone has access to the most up-to-date information to assist in those decisions.”

The catalogue can be viewed here

[Posted: Fri 30/07/2010]