KEYWORDS:
Immunization Registry, Data Quality
BACKGROUND:
Since 1998 Partners in Health Systems has managed and maintained regional registries across Upstate New York. As registries become integrated into provider practices the quality of data being sent to the registry is critical. Additionally, our goal is to establish a registry that is used in the provider’s office day-to-day as part of administering immunizations. Therefore we assist them in this process in many ways including working closely with them on data quality.
OBJECTIVE:
Develop an ongoing process that educates providers about their role in data quality and develop tools to assist them in conducting data quality assessments.
METHOD:
Different methods of collecting data require different approaches for reviewing data. Recognizing these differences, develop different methodologies for assessing data from the provider’s perspective with the potential to improve collection practices. Some methods developed use the ACIP schedule, SQL queries, data analysis and audits to examine data at the provider level. Assistance was gained from medical clinicians, software engineers and many others to ensure that all areas were being covered. An existing data quality team discusses methods and analysis to make recommendations for any needed adjustments.
RESULT:
The development of a data quality tool to be implemented by the provider’s staff to help ensure the data collected for the registry meet the high standards needed to use the system day-to-day in immunization administration.
CONCLUSION:
Data quality is an integral part of immunization registries, and for registries to succeed data quality practices must be in place where the data collection starts.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
To see practical approaches to data quality to be introduced to providers.
Back to Designing Multi-Faceted Data Quality Initiatives
Back to The 2003 Immunization Registry Conference (October 27-29, 2003)