What is USCDI Core?
Overview
The United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) is a standardized set of health data classes and constituent data elements for nationwide, interoperable health information exchange. Established by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), USCDI aims to improve patient care, enhance health data interoperability, and streamline health data exchange across different healthcare systems.
Purpose
The primary goal of USCDI is to ensure that health information can be shared seamlessly and securely across different healthcare providers, systems, and settings. This helps in:
- Improving Patient Care: Ensuring healthcare providers have access to complete and accurate patient information.
- Enhancing Interoperability: Facilitating the exchange of health information across different electronic health record (EHR) systems.
- Supporting Public Health: Enabling better data collection and analysis for public health purposes.
Key Components
Data Classes
USCDI organizes health data into several key data classes, each containing specific data elements. The primary data classes include:
Patient Demographics
Basic information about the patient, including:
- First Name
- Last Name
- Date of Birth
- Address
- Phone Number
- Gender
- Race and Ethnicity
Problems
Information about patient diagnoses and conditions, including:
- Problem List
- Diagnosis Codes
Medications
Details of the medications prescribed to the patient, including:
- Medication List
- Medication Name
- Dosage
- Frequency
Allergies and Intolerances
Information about any allergies or intolerances the patient has, including:
- Allergy List
- Substance
- Reaction
Immunizations
Records of the patient's immunizations, including:
- Immunization List
- Administration Date
Procedures
Information about medical procedures the patient has undergone, including:
- Procedure List
- Procedure Name
- Date of Procedure
Clinical Notes
Textual notes and observations made by healthcare providers.
Vitals
Vital signs and measurements, including:
- Blood Pressure
- Heart Rate
- Body Temperature
- Respiratory Rate
Laboratory Results
Results of laboratory tests and screenings, including:
- Test Name
- Result Value
- Units of Measurement
- Reference Range
Data Elements
Each data class consists of multiple data elements, which represent the specific pieces of information within that class. For example, the "Patient Demographics" data class includes data elements such as "First Name," "Last Name," and "Date of Birth."