Internal sources of data include EHR, PHR, and EMR systems, order management systems, radiology, laboratory, pharmacy, and other clinical systems, billing and claims systems, supplies and materials systems, and privileging and credentialing records. It also includes employees’ surveys, documents concerning policies and procedures, patients’ observations and interviews, case-mix systems, medical records, cost information systems, statistics data, and other direct observations and measurements.
External sources of data include source hubs such as Integrated Healthcare Association, Improving Chronic Illness Care, Pay for Performance, The Joint Commission, Leapfrog Group, and Institute for Health Care Improvement. Other external sources are Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Commonwealth Fund, Simpler Health Care, and California Health Care Foundation. There are many other international health organizations that provide health systems with necessary data as well.