Coordinator research program Learning Health System; endowed professor 'Transparency in healthcare from a patient perspective', Tranzo, Tilburg University, the Netherlands
Publicatie
Electronic medical records: recommendations for routine. Report of the eHID (Electronic Health Indicator Data Project). International comparisons of epidemiological outcomes: diabetes, health disease and mental illness.
Pringle, M., Schellevis, F.G., Elliott, C., Verheij, R.A., Fleming, D.M. Electronic medical records: recommendations for routine. Report of the eHID (Electronic Health Indicator Data Project). International comparisons of epidemiological outcomes: diabetes, health disease and mental illness. In: 13th Wonca Europe Conference, Parijs, 17-20 oktober 2007. Abstract on CD-rom.
Aim: It is believed that electronic medical records generated in a routine and disciplined manner by primary care doctors can potentially provide a very cost effective approach to disease monitoring. Part of the eHID project was concerned with a comparison of the actual epidemiological data that could be generated by nationally representative networks of general practitioners on the basis of electronic medical records. In this session we will present the epidemiological findings of this part of the project. The primary purpose was to try and establish how far routine operational data could be considered reliable for the estimation of prevalence. Design and methods: Analysis of age and sex standardized health indicator data collected in the networks in 2004 and 2005, including prevalence and incidence of diabetes, prevalence of ischaemic heart disease and prevalence of mental illness. Translations had to be made between the different disease coding systems that are used in different networks. Data from networks in eight countries could be compared: Belgium, UK, Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy, Denmark and Malta. Results: The differences between the various national networks with respect to diabetes were found to be quite small. With respect to ischeamic heart disease, and particularly mental health problems, the differences are bigger. Conclusion: Routinely collected epidemiological data from health service provision can be used to estimate prevalence. However, the data have to be interpreted in the context of the health care structure in the various countries.
Aim: It is believed that electronic medical records generated in a routine and disciplined manner by primary care doctors can potentially provide a very cost effective approach to disease monitoring. Part of the eHID project was concerned with a comparison of the actual epidemiological data that could be generated by nationally representative networks of general practitioners on the basis of electronic medical records. In this session we will present the epidemiological findings of this part of the project. The primary purpose was to try and establish how far routine operational data could be considered reliable for the estimation of prevalence. Design and methods: Analysis of age and sex standardized health indicator data collected in the networks in 2004 and 2005, including prevalence and incidence of diabetes, prevalence of ischaemic heart disease and prevalence of mental illness. Translations had to be made between the different disease coding systems that are used in different networks. Data from networks in eight countries could be compared: Belgium, UK, Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy, Denmark and Malta. Results: The differences between the various national networks with respect to diabetes were found to be quite small. With respect to ischeamic heart disease, and particularly mental health problems, the differences are bigger. Conclusion: Routinely collected epidemiological data from health service provision can be used to estimate prevalence. However, the data have to be interpreted in the context of the health care structure in the various countries.