Whom Should We Regard as Responsible for Health Record Inaccuracies That Hinder Population-Based Fact Finding?

Abstract

Electronic health records (EHRs) have revolutionized the scale, speed, and granularity at which health data can be collated and summarized for epidemiologic purposes. However, population-level analyses of patient-level data are only as reliable as the accuracy or completeness of patient reporting, clinician data entry, and how systems are programmed. This commentary on a case argues that responsibility for the validity of EHR data should be shared among key stakeholders, including patients. This commentary also proposes models for EHR data inquiry, data entry, and review processes that incorporate roles of community partners, frontline clinicians, and health science experts.