Analysis of the Data Consistency of Medical Imaging Information Systems: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

In the context of medical imaging, a considerable amount of data is created on daily basis, which are produced and managed by multiple medical imaging and information systems. The professional and department performance, as well as the respective characterization, are supported by these data, which makes their quality a critical aspect to take into account. The work developed had the objective of analysing the existence of nonconformities related to the consistency of the Radiology Information Systems (RIS) and Picture and Communication System (PACS) databases, as well as their precision, accuracy, integrity and associated risks for the healthcare practice. Data belonging to 1068 computed radiography studies were analysed and ten nonconformities were identified, related to the patient name, patient age, patient date of birth, patient gender, study date, study time, institution identification, radiologist identification, number of radiographic projections performed, and billing code. The work carried out allowed identifying some lack of data quality, sometimes evidenced in the absence of consistency, precision, accuracy and integrity.