Steps towards single source--collecting data about quality of life within clinical information systems.

Information about the quality of life from patients being treated in routine medical care is important for the attending physician. This data is also needed in research for example to evaluate the therapy and the course of the disease respectively. Especially skin diseases often negatively affect the quality of life. Therefore we aimed to design a concept to collect such data during treatment and use it for both medical care and research in the setting of dermatology. We performed a workflow analysis and implemented a designated form using the tools of the local clinical information system. Quality of life data is now collected within the clinical information system during treatment and is used for discharge letters, progress overviews as well as research about the treatment and course of disease. This concept which contributes to the single source approach was feasible within dermatology and is ready to be expanded into other domains.