Health Information Standards

We are producing a number of health information standards to improve patient safety and quality of care. These include standards for sharing information and to govern the way health records are captured and stored and to ensure they are kept confidential and secure. By ensuring access to accurate records, these standards will save lives and improve the quality of care across our health and social care services.

Standards for National Health Information Sources in Ireland

We are developing Standards for National Health Information Sources. This involved producing a detailed inventory of all the major health and social care information sources in Ireland, along with information regarding who uses this information and when. We have also completed an international review of standards for health information sources.  We will use this information to develop Standards for National Health Information Sources to further improve the overall quality and use of our national health information sources.

Health Information Technical Standards

We are developing Health Information Technical Standards to ensure that there can be consistency in capturing and sharing of health information records. This includes the use of data definitions, clinical concepts and terminologies, coding and classifications, messaging, the Electronic Health Record, security, audit, safety, and quality

Health Information Governance

Health information governance relates to the ethical and legal considerations that should be given to health information to ensure that it is kept confidential and secure. Standards for Health Information Governance are required to bring together all the legal requirements, standards and best practice that apply to the handling and sharing of health information. As a first step, we have published guidance for Privacy Impact Assessments (PIA).

How can I get involved?

See our resource centre, or find more information on our workshops or sign up for a project update.