Quality Improvement: Clinical Research and Data Management
Outcomes data is accumulated, categorized and
stratified to define every nuance of a patient's care,
including co-morbidities, procedures performed,
post-operative events, and risk adjustment
information. This data is entered into a clinical
database which provides information to assist in
identifying strategies that can be implemented to
improve the quality of care provided.
Divisional
specific scorecards are then developed to monitor
and evaluate these strategies. The scorecards
are reviewed at quarterly quality meetings that
are attended by the multidisciplinary cardiac
care team. The team then translates outcomes
data into practical strategies to improve care.
This approach has been incorporated into each
of our institutions and used as a method of tracking
our outcomes and improving quality care.
About the Office of Quality Improvement
The Office of Quality Improvement,
Clinical Research, and Data
Management was created by the
divisions of Cardiovascular and
Thoracic Surgery in 2000 under the
direction of Katherine Cornelius, BSN,
RN. Composed of a multi-disciplinary
team with combined expertise in
clinical knowledge, informatics, surgical
experience and data management,
the Office has the mission of gathering
and analyzing outcomes research,
thus fulfilling the Divisions' commitment
to superior patient outcomes, clinical
research and data management.
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