Data Collection

Everything You Care to Know About the Data (Just About)
The overall goal that we are all working toward is to improve the quality of care that we deliver to our patients.  In order to achieve the desired improvement, we need to measure the care we provide. 

Data Validation
As part of the 7th Scope of Work activity, and in support of the public reporting initiatives, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is conducting a quarterly retrospective validation of data submitted by hospitals to the QIO Clinical Warehouse. Click here for additional information.

“You need to know where you are, to get where you want to go.”
This page provides hospitals with links to specific reference sites that contain the background, procedures, instructions, tools, and answers needed to collect data and measure progress.  The information is extensive, ever changing, and comes from many sources.  Rather than attempting to maintain the latest documentation on this site, just click on the links below to take you to specific areas that are continuously updated with the latest information from CMS, JCAHO, AHA, AAMC, FAH, etc.

QualityNet Exchange WebEx Training
View the November 10, 2004, QualityNet Exchange WebEx Training conducted by Charlie Chapin, MS, CHCA: QNet Exchange: Basic Navigation, Resources, and Key Areas for Hospitals’ QI Operations
(WRF, 17MB) WebEx Player Required.

Links & Resources

• CMS/ JCAHO Specifications Manual for National Hospital Quality Measures
  http://www.jcaho.org/pms/core+measures/aligned_manual.htm
  The aligned manual represents the result of efforts by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations to achieve identity among common national hospital performance measures and to share a single set of common documentation. 

• QualityNet Exchange
  http://www.qnetexchange.org/
  This location is sponsored by CMS and leads to an exhaustive set of resources.  Rather than searching for what you need, the following links will take you directly there.

• Hospital Data Collection
  http://www.qnetexchange.org/public/welcome/index.jsp?tabID=4&txt=
  Information on the latest developments, data transmission, public reporting, data validation, measure definitions, links to associated organizations, and even recorded training sessions.
  

• CMS Abstraction and Reporting Tool (CART) and Much More
  http://www.qnetexchange.org/public/newcart/index.jsp
  This location is a comprehensive source for all CART users.  In addition, JCAHO-accredited hospitals and their vendors will find many related references and documents extremely useful, as well.  Clinical topic-specific resources, additional validation details, data transmission schedule, measure specifications, sample reports, and guidelines are just a few of the selected items.
  

• Questions and Answers (QNet Quest) http://www.qnetquest.org/quest/index.do?mode=9c&image=http://www.qnetexchange.org/public/newcart/images/cartnew.gif
  A database driven system that will search for the answers.  Just type in your topic of interest and keywords related to your question.  You will not need to scroll through pages of unrelated Q&A’s looking for your answer.  Moreover, if you do not find an answer to your question or you find only a partial answer, you can submit a question while you are on-line at the time.

Still can’t find what you are looking for?  Contact Charlie Chapin at (602) 665-6107 or cchapin@azqio.sdps.org

Thank you for your commitment to improving the quality of care in Arizona!