Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30394981›Full record

ArticleMedical care2019

Variation in Laboratory Test Naming Conventions in EHRs Within and Between Hospitals: A Nationwide Longitudinal Study.

Wyndy L Wiitala, Brenda M Vincent, Jennifer A Burns, Hallie C Prescott, Akbar K Waljee, Genna R Cohen, Theodore J Iwashyna

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Medical care, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
1.5field-weighted citation impact, top 15% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 13 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Wyndy L WiitalaVeterans Affairs Center for Clinical Management Research.
Brenda M VincentVeterans Affairs Center for Clinical Management Research.
Jennifer A BurnsVeterans Affairs Center for Clinical Management Research.
Hallie C PrescottVeterans Affairs Center for Clinical Management Research.
Akbar K WaljeeVeterans Affairs Center for Clinical Management Research.
Genna R CohenMathematica Policy Research, Washington, DC.
Theodore J IwashynaVeterans Affairs Center for Clinical Management Research.
VA Center for Clinical Management Research · USMathematica Policy Research · USUniversity of Michigan–Ann Arbor · US

Funding

Training to Advance Care Through Implementation Science in Cardiac And Lung Illnesses (TACTICAL)K12HL138039 · NHLBI · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI BARNES, GEOFFREY DOUGLAS, PRESCOTT, HALLIE CHRISTINE · 2017 to 2021
$3.1M
General pathways and personalized risk of morbidity after sepsisK08GM115859 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI PRESCOTT, HALLIE CHRISTINE · 2015 to 2018
$776k
Longterm Consequences for Veterans with SepsisI01HX000689 · VA · VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION · PI IWASHYNA, THEODORE J · 2013 to 2013
–
Advanced Prediction Models to Optimize Treatment and Access for Veterans with Hepatitis CI01HX002220 · VA · VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION · PI WALJEE, AKBAR K · 2018 to 2021
–
Risk Stratification and Targeted Therapy for HELP Diseases in VeteransIK2HX000775 · VA · VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION · PI WALJEE, AKBAR K · 2014 to 2014
–
HSRD VA I01 HX000689HSRD VA I01 HX002220HSRD VA IK2 HX000775NHLBI NIH HHS K12 HL138039NIGMS NIH HHS K08 GM115859
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundElectronic health records provide clinically rich data for research and quality improvement work. However, the data are often unstructured text, may be inconsistently recorded and extracted into centralized databases, making them difficult to use for research.

objectivesWe sought to quantify the variation in how key laboratory measures are recorded in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Corporate Data Warehouse (CDW) across hospitals and over time. We included 6 laboratory tests commonly drawn within the first 24 hours of hospital admission (albumin, bilirubin, creatinine, hemoglobin, sodium, white blood cell count) from fiscal years 2005-2015.

resultsWe assessed laboratory test capture for 5,454,411 acute hospital admissions at 121 sites across the VA. The mapping of standardized laboratory nomenclature (Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes, LOINCs) to test results in CDW varied within hospital by laboratory test. The relationship between LOINCs and laboratory test names improved over time; by FY2015, 109 (95.6%) hospitals had >90% of the 6 laboratory tests mapped to an appropriate LOINC. All fields used to classify test results are provided in an Appendix (Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/MLR/B635).

conclusionsThe use of electronic health record data for research requires assessing data consistency and quality. Using laboratory test results requires the use of both unstructured text fields and the identification of appropriate LOINCs. When using data from multiple facilities, the results should be carefully examined by facility and over time to maximize the capture of data fields.

Indexed as

Hospitals, VeteransLogical Observation Identifiers Names and CodesData WarehousingElectronic Health RecordsHumansLongitudinal StudiesMiddle AgedUnited StatesUnited States Department of Veterans Affairs

Identifiers

PMID30394981
PMCPMC6417968
OpenAlexW2899270391

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.