If we want reliable national data from electronic health records, health information standards must be implemented
The Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH) program, which began in 1998, is a continuous, national, cross-sectional survey of the clinical activity of general practitioners.1 The survey collects information from rolling random samples of GPs with the aim of gaining an understanding of the characteristics of the GPs themselves, the content of GP–patient encounters, and the services and treatments provided.
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In 2011–2012, the BEACH program was funded by: AstraZeneca Australia, Department of Health and Ageing, Department of Veterans' Affairs, CSL Biotherapies, GlaxoSmithKline Australia, MSD Australia, Pfizer Australia, Novartis Australia and Sanofi Australia and New Zealand. Previously, funding was also received for one or more years from Abbott Australia, Bayer Australia, Janssen-Cilag, National Prescribing Service, National Occupational Health and Safety Commission, Roche and Wyeth Australia.
No relevant disclosures.