Achieving "meaningful use" of electronic health records through the integration of the Nursing Management Minimum Data Set

Abstract

Objective: To update the definitions and measures for the Nursing Management Minimum Data Set (NMMDS).

Background: Meaningful use of electronic health records includes reuse of the data for quality improvement. Nursing management data are essential to explain variances in outcomes. The NMMDS is a research-based minimum set of essential standardized management data useful to support nursing management and administrative decisions for quality improvement.

Methods: The NMMDS data elements, definitions, and measures were updated and normalized to current national standards and mapped to LOINC (Logical Observation Identifier Names and Codes), a federally recognized standardized data set for public dissemination.

Results: The first 3 NMMDS data elements were updated, mapped to LOINC, and publicly disseminated.

Conclusions: Widespread use of the NMMDS could reduce administrative burden and enhance the meaningful use of healthcare data by ensuring that nursing relevant contextual data are available to improve outcomes and safety measurement for research and quality improvement in and across healthcare organizations.