Ireland: ten new standards to improve the quality of data collection in health

The Irish Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) published a new set of ten standards to be implemented across the country. The aim is to “improve the quality of national health information and data, contributing to the delivery of safe and reliable healthcare.”

The government already collects data relating, for example, to influenza vaccine uptake and breast cancer screening rates, which has been published in an annual review since 2015. However, it wants to the new standards to improve the quality of the data.

From the report:

The ten Irish health assessment standards:

1. The managing organisation of the national health and social care data collection has effective arrangements in place to protect the privacy of people about whom it holds information.
2. The managing organisation of the national health and social care data collection has effective governance, leadership and management arrangements in place, with clear lines of accountability to ensure that its objectives are met.
3. The managing organisation maintains a publicly available statement of purpose that accurately describes the aims and objectives of the national health and social care data collection.
4. The managing organisation of the national health and social care data collection is compliant with relevant legislation and codes of practice.
5. The managing organisation of the national health and social care data collection complies with health information standards and nationally agreed definitions to enable comparability and sharing of information.
6. The managing organisation of the national health and social care data collection systematically assesses, monitors and improves the quality of the data it holds to ensure its objectives are met.
7. The managing organisation of the national health and social care data collection disseminates data and information appropriately and ensures that data users can access data and information in a timely manner to meet their needs.
8. The managing organisation of the national health and social care data collection has effective arrangements in place for information governance which ensure that personal information is handled legally and securely.
9. The managing organisation of the national health and social care data collection plans, organises and develops its workforce to effectively deliver its objectives.
10. The managing organisation of the national health and social care data collection plans and manages the allocation and use of resources to ensure its objectives are met.