I would like to get an idea of what others do in this kind of case. We know that certain data exists because we have evidence of it, but we have no way of getting it. Here is an example:

We know some of our patients have had immunizations for Hep B. This is absolutely for sure, since we have a test for antibodies that can only be present when they get shots. The patients themselves in some case can confirm this (without details). I have written a module that determines if a patient's vaccination regmine is complete based on the number of shots, type of shots and lab values. But without having the actual data the patients without complete immunization histories will forever show a having an incomplete set of vaccinations.

What would you do in a case like this? The options I can think of are (all options listed even if not feasible or ethical):

1) Input false values. But document the database row indicating the actual date and other data is not known and approximate dates where used. Anyone looking at this data or doing a query would see this. This bothers me a bit since this is a patient's record.

2) Hardcode patient's into the routine to indicate they vaccinations are indeed done. Maintenance nightmare, will break often.

3) Revisit the design of the hep module and add in some sort of field that allows the user to indicate "vaccination regime is done, but data is not present". The danger is that users may abuse this option.

4) Insist the users track down the data. This most likely is impossible.

5) Insist the users give the patient the shots. Con: this is not in the patient's best interest. Pro: they are not completely sure of the nature of the treatment.