KEYWORDS:
Quality Assurance, Data Completeness, Data Flow & Processing, Quality of Provider Data
BACKGROUND:
Data quality relies on both the quality and completeness of incoming data. Almost all providers are reporting, however, UTD rates from the Registry are lower than “actual” rates. Also, VFC provider orders exceed doses reported to the Registry.
OBJECTIVE:
To identify the sources of data gaps in Philadelphia’s Immunization Registry.
METHOD:
In order to identify the level and sources of data gaps in the Registry, the Missing Immunization Report (MIR) Initiative was implemented. Individual provider sites are audited, and the immunization histories in patient charts are compared to histories contained in the Registry. UTD rates before and after auditing are calculated, as well as the percentage of children with missing immunizations.
RESULT:
The majority of data gaps are caused by data flow & processing issues at the provider site, including billing errors and erroneous CPT coding. Underlying causes are a lack of internal checks and providers not using their own data. Differences in completeness have been found between manual and electronic reporters. Through the MIR Initiative, providers are now working to improve their UTD rates in the Registry.
CONCLUSION:
Significant problems related to data flow and processing exist on the provider level. The Registry and Immunization communities can identify these issues, but not until there is sufficient motivation from the Medical community to make the time and effort for change, will data completeness improve.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
To understand the effect of quality and completeness of provider data on a Registry. To identify problems with collecting data at the provider level and how these issues affect an Immunization Registry.
Back to Development and Implementation of Data Quality Monitoring Processes
Back to The 2003 Immunization Registry Conference (October 27-29, 2003)