Building a data foundation for tomorrow's healthcare information management systems.

Accurate, timely data are a necessary foundation for an effective healthcare information management system. Today's systems do not achieve their potential because they lack this essential ingredient. Technology can reduce the problem by making the data entry task easier, but a complete solution will require new strategies for system implementation and use. Functions must be implemented in a sequence that allows the initial functions to establish a data foundation for subsequent functions. Each atomic data item must be collected separately, with a consistent definition. Data capture strategies must permit data to be collected once, at the source. Finally, the data must be used, reused, and corrected by all members of the healthcare team.