Integration of Healthcare Information Systems: Improving Data Quality in a Diagnostic Imaging Department

The existence of multiple information systems in the healthcare environment causes data integrity issues when the information flow architecture is not implemented considering the specificities of each department, the multiple data sources and the data input does not follow the systems requirements. This paper presents a case-study of a diagnostic imaging department information flow analyses and optimization, using the DICOM standard embedded on most equipment, to improve data integrity, availability and structure. The existing patient data structure was redefined and the existing information flow was re-engineered in accordance with the DICOM and IHE guidelines. This study focuses in a diagnostic imaging department and resulted in the identification of a new information flow that permits a significant and positive reduction of information inconsistencies, thus improving data quality.