Data Quality

Jump To Topics Under "Data Quality "     Data Quality     Lab Specimen Source in DSS Laboratory Data     Race and Ethnicity Information on VA race/ethnicity and mortality data       Data Quality Alert (June, 2007) in Medical SAS Datasets       Race Data Quality Update (June, 2008)in Medical SAS Datasets       Data Quality Update: Race (November, 2009)       Improving Patient Race and Ethnicity Information in VA Studies     FAQs

VIReC's goal is to compile information about data quality as it relates to research utility*. VIReC will report on issues including completeness, reliability, validity, sensitivity, and specificity of VA data. This portion of the VIReC web site will be augmented on an ongoing basis.

If you have any suggestions for additional data elements that VIReC should investigate, or if you have any data quality information from your research that you would be willing to share with other researchers, please contact the VIReC Help Desk.

Data Quality Topics

• Specimen Source in DSS Lab Data

Information about the quality of lab results related to specimen source in the Decision Support System (DSS) National Data Extracts (NDE) Lab Results (LAR) files is available.

• Race and Ethnicity Information

  • Information about the quality of race and ethnicity data in the Medical SAS Datasets is available.

  • Data Quality Update: Race (November, 2009)

  • HSR&D Presentation, February, 2009. Improving Patient Race and Ethnicity Information in VA Studies: Agreement Between VA and Medicare

  • Race Data Quality Update (June, 2008) in Medical SAS Datasets

  • Data Quality Alert (June, 2007) in Medical SAS Datasets

• Mortality Ascertainment

Information about the quality of vital status and date of death information in VA data sources.

*The Health Data and Informatics Office of the VA's Office of Information (OI) is responsible for ensuring the quality of VA healthcare data.