Towards Health Information Integration

Background: While data based on health statistics (S-data) provide a summarized view of the health of a general population, data based on electronic health records (EHR-data) provide information about individual patients. Serving fairly different purposes, the two approaches to health information have evolved more or less independently. However, various benefits of using EHR-data in connection with public health issues have been identified and discussed. Objectives: The conceptual differences between these two approaches and the potential benefits of integration are discussed. A schematic illustration of the integration of EHR-data and S-data is outlined to analyze an integration scenario. Methods: As a test case we used reimbursement data of the Main Association of Austrian Social Security Institutions (EHR-data) and Austrian data of the European Community Health Survey (S-data). The time frame considered was restricted to the period from 2006 to 2007, and the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Austria was selected as the exemplary subject of interest. Results: With respect to specific medical concepts, comparisons between EHR-data and S-data are clearly feasible. EHR-data are potentially valid substitutes of S-data and can provide detailed evidence for health reporting. For diabetes the difference of the prevalence between EHR-data and S-Data was only 1% for whole Austria. Conclusions: The pilot study yielded encouraging results. With respect to specific medical concepts, comparisons between EHR-data and S-data are clearly feasible. EHR-data are potentially valid to substitute or supplement surveys and can provide detailed evidence for health reporting.