The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) published a review of information management practices at the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry Scheme (HIPE), which is the main health information system used in Ireland to inform healthcare planning, delivery and funding; health promotion; and research. This review was undertaken in order to assess compliance with the Information management standards for national health and social care data collections within HIPE, which is designed to collect demographic, clinical and administrative information on discharges and deaths from acute hospitals nationally.
Information management is particularly important for HIPE given the significance of its data for planning and funding, the significant quantity of data produced, the vast number of stakeholders involved in generating the data, the complexity of the data flow pathway and the significant cost associated with generating the data.
The review makes nine recommendations that, if implemented effectively, will drive improvements in information management at HIPE. Rachel Flynn, HIQA’s Director of Health Information and Standards, said: “The review found shortcomings in governance structures at HIPE that have the potential to impact on its crucial role in healthcare planning and funding. To ensure that HIPE can fulfil its essential role, it is important that the HSE implements the nine recommendations made by HIQA today.”
Read more:
- HIQA review: https://www.hiqa.ie/hiqa-news-updates/lack-appropriate-governance-hipe-may-impact-its-healthcare-planning-and-funding
- Hospital In-Patient Enquiry Scheme: http://www.hpo.ie/