Clinical Granularity
Clinical granularity refers to the level of detail and specificity captured in clinical data, documentation, or decision-making. It reflects how precisely and comprehensively a patient's condition, symptoms, diagnoses, treatments, and outcomes are described or recorded.
Definition
Clinical granularity is the degree to which clinical information is documented with fine, meaningful detail that supports accurate diagnosis, treatment planning, communication, and data analysis.
Examples
| Aspect | Low Granularity | High Granularity |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnosis | Infection | Postoperative Staphylococcus aureus meningitis |
| Symptom | Altered mental status | Fluctuating bradipsychia with bilateral VI nerve palsy and Parinaud’s sign |
| Imaging | CT normal | CT shows mild periventricular edema, Evans index 0.34, no midline shift |
| Medication | Antibiotics given | Vancomycin 1g/12h IV, adjusted for GFR 45 ml/min |
Importance
- Improves diagnostic precision
- Enables personalized treatment
- Supports better coding and billing (ICD, SNOMED)
- Facilitates research and clinical audits
- Enhances inter-professional communication
Example in context
The lack of clinical granularity in the initial emergency department note hindered the neurosurgical team's ability to assess the progression of the patient’s neurological deficits.