What is defined as a database that stores and organizes clinical data from various sources?

A Clinical Data Repository (CDR) is a specialized database designed specifically to capture, store, and organize clinical data from multiple sources, facilitating easy access and retrieval for healthcare professionals. This type of repository integrates data collected from various clinical systems, ensuring that comprehensive patient information is available in one location.

The CDR supports the interoperability of health data, allowing for comprehensive reporting and analysis, which can improve patient care and outcomes. It plays a crucial role in clinical decision support, research, and quality improvement initiatives by providing a consolidated view of patient data across different systems.

In contrast, a Health Information Exchange (HIE) primarily focuses on the sharing of health information between different healthcare organizations but does not specifically serve as a repository for storing data. An Electronic Health Record (EHR) is a digital version of a patient’s medical history but is more focused on the documentation of individual patient encounters rather than serving as a centralized repository for data from various sources. A Patient Management System (PMS) is more geared towards managing the administrative aspects of patient care and practice management, rather than the comprehensive storage and organization of clinical data. Thus, the definition of a CDR aligns precisely with the functions of storing and organizing clinical data from diverse origins.