Data Handling 2 | Pathology

Data Handling

Evidence 1: Information Governance (IG)

Information Governance is to do with the way organisations handle information. It covers personal information, i.e. that relating to patients/service users and employees, and corporate information, e.g. financial and accounting records.

Purpose of Information Governance

It allows organisations and individuals to ensure that personal information is handled legally, securely, efficiently and effectively in order to support delivery of the best possible care.

It provides a framework to bring together all the rules, whether legal or simply best practice, that apply to the handling of information.

Information Governance and patient care

Information Governance can help improve the care patient/service users receive by improving the quality of information held (i.e. accurate and complete) and by also improving information sharing when required.

Main topics Information Governance focuses on:

Appropriate usage of the data held
Is the data being kept of value?
How is data held, classified, organised and looked after?
How is information acquired, stored, retained and deleted when no longer needed?
Who can access the data, and under what circumstances?
Who owns and is accountable for the date held?

Evidence 1 continued: with reference to your own scope of practice complete the table below by answering the following questions relating to each IG topic above.

1. Questions on Information Governance:

Evidence 2: List the checks you would make when training a new member of staff in the procedures for data entry. Split this down into the following 3 areas:

1. Checks made before processing sample for data entry (e.g. relevant IT passwords, access, training / competency available, read and understood the relevant SOP).

2. Checks made during sample processing for data entry (e.g. containers and test information, correct demographic checks, correcting and explaining errors, booking in on IT system).

3. Checks made post sample processing for data entry (e.g. confirmation of training, what went well / not so well, scanning request forms, etc).

2. Data entry checks:

Checks made before processing sample for data entry:

Checks made during sample processing for data entry:

Checks made post sample processing for data entry:

Evidence 3: Complete the following table listing 10 abbreviations and their definitions used in your scope of practice:

3. Terms and abbreviations :

Evidence 4: You have been asked to help with a review of data handling procedures and decide an audit is the best way to proceed. When designing your audit, choose 1 key area to focus on for each of the following items below, explain why you chose this key area:

What main areas / benches / locations would you be reviewing? (e.g. sample booking in area).
What procedures / methods would you be reviewing? (e.g. a specific common test carried out in the department).
What records / documents would you be reviewing? (e.g. request form)
What staff side matters would you be reviewing? (e.g. training & competency records)
What equipment / consumables would you be reviewing? (e.g. data held on computers)

4. A review of data handling:

Sign off: After you have collected each piece of evidence, hand them into your trainer / mentor who will then countersign them. Please note that they may ask for additional evidence or ask you follow up questions. Also ensure that:

You have date and signed your work
You only submit evidence for checking once it is completed (you may take individual evidence pieces out of your portfolio)
Ensure any countersigned checked work is returned back (in order) to your portfolio

Try not to hand in multiple pieces of evidence for marking at once - this will create too much work for your trainer / mentor, instead spread submissions out throughout your training.

Trainer notes: Ensure the candidates line manager completes the 'Line Manager's Comments' section as each module in the portfolio is completed - continuous assessment of the candidates work is required throughout the training period.