HIM 220 Module Three Worksheet
Review the “Real-World Case” involving a data dictionary below. Then, answer the questions that
follow:
Janice has been given the responsibility of creating and managing the data
dictionary for the laboratory Information System (IS) that is being implemented.
There are a number of existing ISs that have their own data dictionaries. The data
from the laboratory IS will be part of a clinical data repository. She decided that
she needs to start from scratch to make the data dictionary the best it can be. She
is reviewing the data dictionaries from the other ISs used at the healthcare
organization but she does not always use the same terminology and format that
are used in the other ISs. (Sayles & Kavanaugh-Burke, 2021, p. 56)
1. What is the purpose of the data dictionary and why is it important to create one?
The purpose of the data dictionary is to create standard definitions and ensure consistency. The
data dictionary assists in improving, data quality, data integrity, documentation, data analysis
and data reuse to help control the quality of data.
2. How will the data dictionary help improve or address data consistency, data currency, data
definitions, data granularity, data precision, data relevancy, and data timeliness?
Data Consistency: Ensure that like data are the same for each document entered once and
displayed on multiple screens.
Data Currency: Helps ensure that data is up to date. Patient care must be based on current
information.
Data Definition: Each data element provides a foundation that allows for everyone to collect
data in the same way for a standard definition to avoid confusion.
Data Granularity: The level of detail about the attributes and values of healthcare data. The
required level of detail depends on the patient's circumstances.
Data Precision: Data that is necessary to support measures and how the data determines what it
should.
Data Relevancy: The extent to which data is useful and the purpose for which it was collected.
Data Timeliness: The data should be available to the user when in need and recorded at the
appropriate time after an event.
3. Do you think it is necessary for this healthcare facility to have a data warehouse? If not, why
not? If so, why and how will the laboratory IS provide useful information to the data
warehouse?
It is necessary for a healthcare facility to have a data warehouse. The ability to access data from
multiple databases and combine the results into a single query. The laboratory IS can provide
useful information to the data warehouse to help with statistics on the test performed and the
demographic of the patient.
4. How could data mining be applied to this scenario?
Data mining is the process of extracting and analyzing large amounts of data from the database.
Data mining is important because it turns data into meaningful information. It can be used in
this scenario to verify the same terminology is being used in the new system to avoid confusion.
References
Sayles, N. B., & Kavanaugh-Burke, L. (2021). Introduction to information systems for health information
technology (4th ed.). AHIMA Press.
