Currently, there is no consensus as to what exactly a patient registry is and is not. The goal is to determine and define the most appropriate language for patient registry standardization, a patient registry terminology (common language), universal patient registry characteristics and a globally harmonized patient registry classification system. Each term will include a brief definition, a broader explanation, the associated values & uses, and conclude with a discussion of issues or conflicts related to the term.

The Taxonomy will help to promote and facilitate greater understanding of health care outcomes research and its use in health care decisions. The target audience is health care professionals and decision-makers, as well as outcomes research practioners.

* The ISPOR Patient Registry Special Interest Group: Classification, Strategy & Design Working Group is developing this book.