Greetings,
When we use the Quality Measures module (as, for example in monitoring our colorectal cancer screening performance), we obtain one number for the “population at risk” in the time interval in question (the “denominator”). The Quality Measures module specifically defines the denominator for each measure. In the case of colorectal cancer screening, the denominator is “Number of unique patients with a visit in the reporting period, ages 50-80.”
However, if we do a Registry search for patients age 50-80, seen in that same time period (e.g., month), in other words attempting a second method to obtain the denominator or the “population at risk”, the Registry result returns a figure roughly twice the size of that returned by the Quality Measures module.
We have spoken with eCW representatives who suggest that the “Encounters” search function in Registry searches counts each time a patient is seen in the given time period (e.g., month), but we have tested that hypothesis and found that to be incorrect. Using the “Encounters” Registry search function returns unique patients. Thus a Registry search should return essentially the same “denominator” as one obtains when using the Quality Measures module (for a given demographic definition.
Help, please. These two functions must be roughly equivalent if we are to use the Registry function in quality monitoring as a supplement to the Quality Measures module.
Thank you,
Mark. M. Nunlist, MD, MS
White River Family Practice