MIMIC-IV Notes: Censoring of echo observations as PHI

Prerequisites

• Put an X between the brackets on this line if you have done all of the following:
  [X] Checked the online documentation: https://mimic.mit.edu/
  [X] Checked that your issue isn't already addressed: https://github.com/MIT-LCP/mimic-code/issues?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=

Description

Hi,
thank you very much for providing and maintaining this database!

I would like to point to an issue that appears to be present only in MIMIC-IV, that was not a problem in MIMIC-III.
In our project we are operating on the free-text clinical notes. In MIMIC-III these used to include information regarding atrial dilation, which could easily be string matched. The notes were written in the form:

LEFT ATRIUM: Mild LA enlargement
LEFT ATRIUM: Moderate LA elongation

In MIMIC-IV, it appears that such information was flagged as PHI, and replaced with three underscores in the discharge reports. At least this is my understanding. What is now present in the notes is:

LEFT ATRIUM: Mild ___
LEFT ATRIUM: Moderate ___

Is this a known issue? Is there a possibility you may bring this information back?

Start by comparing the cited MIMIC-III and MIMIC-IV discharge-note examples and reviewing the online MIMIC documentation. Determine whether the missing echocardiography observations were intentionally censored as PHI and whether the maintainers can restore them; done means a documented resolution or decision on restoration.