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Methodology From PBRNS: Adolfo J. Ariza, Helen J. Binns, Katherine Kaufer Christoffel, and for the Pediatric Practice Research Group Evaluating Computer Capabilities in a Primary Care Practice-Based Research Network Ann Fam Med 2004; 2: 418-420 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

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Electronic letters published:

Evaluating Computer Capabilities: Wide Variation Across Practives, Over Time

Jacob M Reider   (15 November 2004)

Evaluating Computer Capabilities: Wide Variation Across Practives, Over Time 15 November 2004
Jacob M Reider, Albany NY, US Family Physician Send response to journal: Re: Evaluating Computer Capabilities: Wide Variation Across Practives, Over Time	While the results of this study are not surprising, I would expect that if a similar study was done in 2004 the results would be somewhat different - as adoption of information technology has increased recently. Nonetheless, the study misses an important point about the use of information technology as a research tool - the presence of data in electronic form is only the first step in building a good understanding of what's going on in the clinical encounter. For example, without a well-defined clinical nomenclature, it is hard to characterize outpatient visits in a meaningful way. Billing codes are not clinician-friendly. Even with an Electronic Health record, two physicians may chose two different ICD-9 codes for the same clinical diagnosis. Would this mislead a researcher? Perhaps. The recent addition of SNOMED to UMLS is a welcome improvement. If software vendors incorporate the SNOMED terms into their products, the accuracy of clinicians' coding will improve - as will the accuracy of any research based on such information. Competing interests:   None declared