Title: Style Standards to Improve Data Quality and Interoperability

Presenter: Laura Bryan, MS, MT(ASCP), CHDS, AHDI-F

Credit: 1 Technology & Tools (TT)

Session Description: 

This session will discuss the value and benefits of documentation standards as described by SDOs such as AMA, WHO and the AJCC. Examples of relevant standards include units of measure; pharmaceutical regimens; cancer protocols; laboratory results; genetics; disease classifications; abbreviations, medical slang and lingo. The consistent use of style in the healthcare record promotes clear communication; contributes to patient safety; and improves information exchange, data integration, and data aggregation. Applying standards of style to EHR templates, drop-down text, and data dictionaries reduces the need for data normalization, potentially improving results from NLP and emerging technologies such as AI.

After this session, attendees should be able to:

• Identify the benefits of style standards.
• Understand best practices that support quality data exchange, aggregation, integration, and normalization.
• Recognize the value of style standards to improve communication among clinicians and enhance patient safety.

About the Presenter

Laura has taught productivity tips and techniques for MS Word and Windows for 19 years.  In addition to presenting at numerous association meetings at the local and national level, she has published four editions of "MS Word for Healthcare Documentation" as well as "Technology for the Medical Transcriptionist." Laura's work as a speaker and writer has focused on techniques for increasing productivity and accuracy. Laura and her husband Bob own MedEDocs, a healthcare documentation technology provider.