AHIMA data quality characteristics

timeliness

the *availability of up-to-date data within* the useful, operative, or *indicated time*

granularity

the *level of detail* at which the attributes and *characteristics of data quality* in healthcare data are defined

accessibility

the *level of ease and efficiency *at which data are *legally obtainable *within a well protected and controlled environment

definition

the *specific meaning *of a healthcare-related data element

precision

the degree to which *measures support their purpose*, and/or the closeness of two or more measures to each other

currency

the extent to which data are *up-to-date *(outdated if it was current at a preceding time but incorrect at a later time)

relevancy

the extent to which healthcare-related data are *useful* for the *purposes *for which they were collected

accuracy

the extent to which the data are *free of identifiable errors*

consistency

the extent to which the healthcare data are *reliable, identical, and reproducible by different users* across applications

comprehensiveness

the extent to which* all required data *within the entire scope are *collected*, documenting intended exclusions