KEYWORDS:
Immunization Registries, Quality Assurance, Completeness of Registry Data
BACKGROUND:
Problems exist for registries receiving information from multiple sources, such as birth/death records, hospitals, providers, insurers, and other health and social services agencies. Organizations that provide registries with data have increased their computer capabilities, but emphasis on quality has not kept up with computer technology.
The quality of the data in a registry is critical, if users are to depend on the registry. Quality assurance programs must be developed and implemented, both for new registries and mature ones.
OBJECTIVE(S):
To identify the components of a quality assurance program and the problems associated with receiving data (manual and electronic) from multiple sources. Methods for resolving differences in data received from various sources will also be discussed.
METHOD(S):
The components of a quality assessment program, will be discussed including: deduplication of child records, assessing the completeness of provider submissions,audits of provider's records, identifying and eliminating duplicate immunization records (difference in DOS), and the development of a computerized tracking system for data submissions.
RESULT(S):
The results of the various approaches will be presented and various methods for identifying and resolving differences will be discussed. Problems associated with data received electronically will be reviewed, as well as using "VFC order data" to monitor the completeness of provider data.
CONCLUSIONS(S):
A comprehensive quality assessment program is necessary to ensure the completeness and accuracy of registry data. Knowledge of the problems associated with various sources of data is critical, as well as approaches for resolving differences.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
To understand the various components a quality assessment program for a registry. To be able to identify problems encountered with various sources of data.
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