Executive summary. A health record is more useful when people can tell who supplied it, when it was created, and whether it was corrected later.
Definition
Provenance is information about the origin, authorship, timing, and handling of a record.
Ask source questions before using a record
Establish who recorded the information, whether it was entered directly, imported, reported by a patient, or derived from another record, and when it was last reviewed. The answers decide how much weight it can carry.
Source information matters most when records disagree. It gives a reviewer a basis for resolving the difference instead of picking the most convenient value.
Preserve corrections and context
When information is corrected, keep enough context to show what changed and why. A clean current value is useful, and the history matters for care, billing, and review.
Staff should know which source suits the task. A summary is convenient. An original document may be what a formal decision requires.
Frequently asked questions
Is provenance only for technical teams?
No. It answers everyday operational questions: where this came from, who can clarify it, and whether it can carry this decision.
Referenced standards and further reading
- FHIR Provenance Resource ↗HL7 International
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