Utility of administrative and clinical data for cardiac surgery research: A case-based approach to guide choice

“Don't use a screwdriver to pound a nail. It takes forever and wrecks the screwdriver.”1 This is a colloquial adaptation of Abraham Maslow's statement, “If your only tool is a hammer, every problem becomes a nail.”2 Tools for clinical research are evolving, including both eclectic information sources (data) and innovative analytic techniques. This is driven in part by regulatory bodies and third-party payers requiring healthcare personnel and hospitals to document the quality of care delivered. Value-based care paradigms often require quality metrics be met for reimbursement.