Data Quality

Data Quality     Data Quality Alert addresses VA race/ethnicity and mortality data     Lab Specimen Source in DSS Laboratory Data     Race and Ethnicity Information in Medical SAS Datasets     Mortality Ascertainment in VA databases

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.

• 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.