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Data Provenance in Medicine

Meaning

Data provenance in medicine is the rigorous documentation of the origin, journey, and transformations applied to a piece of patient health data from its initial collection point to its final use in clinical decision-making. It provides an auditable trail that confirms the reliability and integrity of diagnostic results, ensuring transparency and accountability in the data lifecycle. For hormonal health, knowing the exact time, method, and processing steps of a serum hormone measurement is critical for its clinical interpretation and use in personalized treatment plans. Establishing clear provenance mitigates the risk of relying on corrupted or inappropriately handled information.