Partnering with Providers to Improve Data Quality

Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
By the end of the presentation participants will be able to directly involve providers into their data quality processes and articulate the benefits to a provider for participating. An emphasis will be placed on rapid application development (RAD), data quality reports, statistical methods, and software processes that allow providers to benefit from the data quality process.

Background:
Registries must improve their data quality but face a daunting task, as many problems originate in provider systems . In addition, many providers want feedback to identify issues that impact quality of care and billing.

Objectives:
First, involve providers into the process of improving data quality so that it results in better practice and billing outcomes and second simplify, standardize, and automate the data quality analysis process.

Methods:
The registry worked with a large pediatric association (42 clinics) and VFC program managers to develop recommendations for improvements to software and processes. These changes were quickly implemented using the RAD process. Providers have reviewed the changes to provide feedback, recommend improvements, and suggest new functionality.

Results:
Through this collaboration several key improvements were made to the data quality process including (1) a reporting module that can email regular data quality reports to provider managers, (2) a data quality issue tracking module that allows providers to review, classify and act on issues encountered during data loads, (3) integration with CASA tools, and (4) improved statistical reports that highlighted potential billing and practice problems.

Conclusions:
This process encourages providers to become invested in the data quality process, which results in improved provider billing and practice. The registry also benefits with an improved, standardized data quality process which insures and validates registry data quality.