Record Linkage — A Rural Health Information Manager's Perspective

Data Quality Maintenance of the Patient Master Index (PMI): A ‘Snap-Shot’ of Public Healthcare Facility PMI Data Quality and Linkage Activities

“…Eighty-two attempted data linkage activities were reported, mostly internal to the individual facility. This finding supports the comments found in much of the reviewed literature that sharing health information internally across systems, and externally to the systems of other facilities, is becoming commonplace in the healthcare industry (Arellano & Weber 1998;Standards Australia 2002;Toth 1999;Victorian DHS 2003).…”

“…There is a wealth of literature emanating from the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and various Australian states, particularly South Australia, describing PMI data quality and record linkage techniques and their importance (Acheson 1971; AHIMA -e-HIM Taskforce 2003; AHIMA -MPI Taskforce 2004; AHIMA - MPI Taskforce 1997a, 1997b, 1997c Holman et al 1999;Lenson 1998;Manitoba Center for Health Policy 2003;McAlpin 2003;New Zealand Health Information Service 2003;Roos et al1996;South Australian DHS 2000Taylor 2003;Toth 1999;Wagner 1981;Walker 1999;Wheatley 2001).…”