Using deterministic record linkage to link ambulance and emergency department data: is it possible without patient identifiers?
Introduction Routine linkage of emergency ambulance records with those from the emergency department is uncommon in the UK. Our study, known as the Pre-Hospital Emergency Department Data Linking Project (PHED Data), aimed to link records of all patients conveyed by a single emergency ambulance servi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Swansea University
2019-08-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Population Data Science |
| Online Access: | https://ijpds.org/article/view/1104 |
| _version_ | 1797426554131709952 |
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| author | Sophie Jane Clark Mary Halter Alison Porter Holly Christina Smith Martin Brand Rachael Fothergill Jaqualine Lindridge Martin McTigue Helen Snooks |
| author_facet | Sophie Jane Clark Mary Halter Alison Porter Holly Christina Smith Martin Brand Rachael Fothergill Jaqualine Lindridge Martin McTigue Helen Snooks |
| author_sort | Sophie Jane Clark |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction
Routine linkage of emergency ambulance records with those from the emergency department is uncommon in the UK. Our study, known as the Pre-Hospital Emergency Department Data Linking Project (PHED Data), aimed to link records of all patients conveyed by a single emergency ambulance service to thirteen emergency departments in the UK from 2012-2016.
Objectives
We aimed to examine the feasibility and resource requirements of collecting de-identified emergency department patient record data and, using a deterministic matching algorithm, linking it to ambulance service data.
Methods
We used a learning log to record contacts and activities undertaken by the research team to achieve data linkage. We also conducted semi-structured interviews with information management/governance staff involved in the process.
Results
We found that five steps were required for successful data linkage for each hospital trust. The total time taken to achieve linkage was a mean of 65 weeks. A total of 958,057 emergency department records were obtained and, of these, 81% were linked to a corresponding ambulance record. The match rate varied between hospital trusts (50%-94%). Staff expressed strong enthusiasm for data linkage. Barriers to successful linkage were mainly due to inconsistencies between and within acute trusts in the recording of two ambulance event identifiers (CAD and call sign). Further data cleaning was required on emergency department fields before full analysis could be conducted. Ensuring the data was not re-identifiable limited validation of the matching method.
Conclusion
We conclude that deterministic record linkage based on the combination of two event identifiers (CAD and call sign) is possible. There is an appetite for data linkage in healthcare organisations but it is a slow process. Developments in standardising the recording of emergency department data are likely to improve the quality of the resultant linked dataset. This would further increase its value for providing evidence to support improvements in health care delivery. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:31:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-84ea4c8ce0a6474eb16511fa8362bb20 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2399-4908 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:31:54Z |
| publishDate | 2019-08-01 |
| publisher | Swansea University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Population Data Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-84ea4c8ce0a6474eb16511fa8362bb202023-12-02T19:41:23ZengSwansea UniversityInternational Journal of Population Data Science2399-49082019-08-014110.23889/ijpds.v4i1.1104Using deterministic record linkage to link ambulance and emergency department data: is it possible without patient identifiers?Sophie Jane Clark0Mary Halter1Alison Porter2Holly Christina Smith3Martin Brand4Rachael Fothergill5Jaqualine Lindridge6Martin McTigue7Helen Snooks8Medical Directorate, London Ambulance Service, London. SE1 8SDKingston University and St George’s, University of London, Centre for Health and Social Care Research, London SW17 0RESwansea University Medical School, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PPDepartment of Primary Care and Population Health, University College London, London, UK; Formally Nuffield Trust, 59 New Cavendish Street, London, UKStrategy Directorate, London Ambulance Service, London. SE1 8SDClinical Audit and Research Unit, London Ambulance Service, London. SE1 0BW Clinical Trials Unit, Medical School, Warwick University Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education, Kingston University and St George’s, University of London, London SW17 0RE27 Devonshire Way, Croydon, CR0 8BU. Emergency Care Intensive Support Team, NHS Improvement, London, SE1 8UG; Formerly Medical Directorate, London Ambulance Service NHS Trust, London, SE1 8SD.Operations West, London Ambulance Service, London. SE1 8SDSwansea University Medical School, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PPIntroduction Routine linkage of emergency ambulance records with those from the emergency department is uncommon in the UK. Our study, known as the Pre-Hospital Emergency Department Data Linking Project (PHED Data), aimed to link records of all patients conveyed by a single emergency ambulance service to thirteen emergency departments in the UK from 2012-2016. Objectives We aimed to examine the feasibility and resource requirements of collecting de-identified emergency department patient record data and, using a deterministic matching algorithm, linking it to ambulance service data. Methods We used a learning log to record contacts and activities undertaken by the research team to achieve data linkage. We also conducted semi-structured interviews with information management/governance staff involved in the process. Results We found that five steps were required for successful data linkage for each hospital trust. The total time taken to achieve linkage was a mean of 65 weeks. A total of 958,057 emergency department records were obtained and, of these, 81% were linked to a corresponding ambulance record. The match rate varied between hospital trusts (50%-94%). Staff expressed strong enthusiasm for data linkage. Barriers to successful linkage were mainly due to inconsistencies between and within acute trusts in the recording of two ambulance event identifiers (CAD and call sign). Further data cleaning was required on emergency department fields before full analysis could be conducted. Ensuring the data was not re-identifiable limited validation of the matching method. Conclusion We conclude that deterministic record linkage based on the combination of two event identifiers (CAD and call sign) is possible. There is an appetite for data linkage in healthcare organisations but it is a slow process. Developments in standardising the recording of emergency department data are likely to improve the quality of the resultant linked dataset. This would further increase its value for providing evidence to support improvements in health care delivery.https://ijpds.org/article/view/1104 |
| spellingShingle | Sophie Jane Clark Mary Halter Alison Porter Holly Christina Smith Martin Brand Rachael Fothergill Jaqualine Lindridge Martin McTigue Helen Snooks Using deterministic record linkage to link ambulance and emergency department data: is it possible without patient identifiers? International Journal of Population Data Science |
| title | Using deterministic record linkage to link ambulance and emergency department data: is it possible without patient identifiers? |
| title_full | Using deterministic record linkage to link ambulance and emergency department data: is it possible without patient identifiers? |
| title_fullStr | Using deterministic record linkage to link ambulance and emergency department data: is it possible without patient identifiers? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using deterministic record linkage to link ambulance and emergency department data: is it possible without patient identifiers? |
| title_short | Using deterministic record linkage to link ambulance and emergency department data: is it possible without patient identifiers? |
| title_sort | using deterministic record linkage to link ambulance and emergency department data is it possible without patient identifiers |
| url | https://ijpds.org/article/view/1104 |
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