Reference Data Management (RDM)

Reference data is what we use to align patient data from across the enterprise to a common frame of understanding.  Reference terminologies can be industry standards, commercial third-party, or locally authored code systems.  A common analytical information core can have hundreds of these terminologies.  Inaccuracies in reference standards can impact regulatory compliance, quality measure evaluation, and meaningful interoperability.

Not staying current can result in incomplete or incorrect reference terminologies.  Using standard terminologies out-of-the-box and being unable to extend them can result in an inability to leverage reference terminologies to benefit the goals of the enterprise.  Using the wrong source can impact the usability of a reference terminology. Having to understand and format new sources can take time and, if done improperly, can create issues.