Intermittent data capture is indicated by a chart recording that is not complete. This creates either whole chunks or incomplete data within a timeline of captured measurements. Intermittent data capture mirrors complete data loss in its inconvenience to the user. This mechanical issue can truncate entire sections or portions of data depending upon the specific error that occurred. Intermittent data capture is damaging because it prevents the user from obtaining a clear, consistent picture of their data over a specified time-span. Moreover, the complete data that was recorded may not be accurate either if the error that occurred extended past a simple mechanical error.
User Error
User error occurs when the user does not take extreme care to set up and/or maintain the chart recording system. This can happen several different ways:
- Failing to place the arm/pin in its precise location, causing interruption within the recording process
- Failing to adjust the injection volume of the arm on traditional recorders, causing interruption within the recording process
- Failing to download paperless chart memory onto an external drive properly
System malfunctions
System malfunctions are typically caused by simple errors:
- Power loss during memory transfer for paperless recorders
- Interrupted recording process in traditional recorders
- Worn-out chart recorder parts on either paperless or traditional recorders
- Degradation of specific recorder parts, notably rotation mechanisms in circular recorders
What You Can Do
Contact a technician to retrieve lost data on a paperless system if the truncated portions are still available in the original system. It is not guaranteed that this data has not become corrupted or irretrievable. Traditional chart recording data is typically harder to obtain after it has been lost due to the physical nature of the machine.