Tailoring Rule-Based Data Quality Assessment to the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Network (PCORnet) Common Data Model (CDM)

Abstract

Individual researchers and research networks have developed and applied different approaches to assess the data quality of electronic health record (EHR) data. A previously published rules-based method to evaluate the data quality of EHR data provides deeper levels of data quality analysis. To examine the effectiveness and generalizability of the rule-based framework, we reprogrammed and translated published rule templates to operate against the PCORnet Common Data Model and executed them against a database for a single center of the Greater Plains Collaborative (GPC) PCORnet Clinical Research Network. The framework detected additional data errors and logical inconsistencies not revealed by current data quality procedures. Laboratory and medication data were more vulnerable to errors. Hemolyzed samples in the emergency department and metformin prescribing in ambulatory clinics are further described to illustrate application of specific rule-based findings by researchers to engage their health systems in evaluating healthcare delivery and clinical quality concerns.