ABSTRACT
The main argument of this chapter is to emphasize the need for clinical directors and others to take responsibility for the definition, collection, and use of the data and information they use. It is often argued that information is power but the authors would argue that this is simplistic; information is power only if the owner understands what it means and knows how to use it. Data, and hence the information derived from it, comes from two different classes of source, primary and secondary, and may be quantitative, obtained by counting things, or qualitative, obtained by soliciting people's opinions. Information technology constitutes one of the biggest areas of investment for most Trusts, and it is therefore necessary to develop an information technology strategy to guide the development of IT systems. Data security is a portmanteau word for two important features of information systems management: protection of data against loss and protection of data against unauthorized access.
