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Effective Use of External Data

Aim:

To understand the role that referral, utilisation, financial and other data can play in describing and re-shaping the use of external services by the practice population and to learn to assess and influence the quality of this data

Overview:

• Overview of NHS data sources, how they are collected and compiled and fed to PCTs and GPs
• Overview of key policies affecting the collection and synthesis of data (connecting for health SUS and it's problems, local servers at PCTs)
• Start with a short illustrative case study of how rigorous and creative use of data can underpin the identification of clinical areas for service developments / improvement

Learning objectives:

• To obtain an overview of NHS data sources, how they are collected and compiled and fed to PCTs and GPs
• To understand key policies affecting the collection and synthesis of data (connecting for health SUS and it's problems, local servers at PCTs)
• To understand the strengths and weaknesses of different data sets and the determinants of data quality
• To learn methods for validating NHS data sets
• To learn about the range of data reports that can be generated and how they can inform service improvement and performance management.

Comparing Data:

• Benchmarking - methods, strengths and weaknesses
• Crude and adjusted data - the importance of standardisation in comparing data (with reference to the work done with John's Hopkins)

Data Quality:

• Determinants of data quality (timeliness, accuracy, precision, etc)
• How to improve data quality - including how PBC can lever improvements.
• Common problems with data quality (e.g. emergency and A&E data, code creep, other)

Data validation:

• Overview of methods to validate data
• Use of small group exercise to assess and decide how to validate some data

Analysis and reporting:

• Analysis and reporting on data to track activity
• How to spot potential 'problem areas' for further investigation (eg short stays for high cost tariffs).
• How to spot gaps in service provision and areas where action is needed.

Getting started:

• Suggestions on first steps for improving data use at practice or PBC consortium level.

Main challenges to be addressed in designing the module:

• Likely to be starting from a low base, with a wide variability in skills, quality of data, the consistency of presentation and the willingness of General Practices to spend time on this.
• It will be challenge to enthuse the practices to look, understand and then do something meaningful with the data available.
• There is likely to be a tendency to wait until the data is perfect before they engage.
• It would be important to give positive examples on what practices have achieved in spite of untidy data.

Key stakeholders:

• GPs and Practice Managers
• Locality/Cluster commissioning managers
• Locality/Cluster analysts
• Locality/Cluster finance manager

Learning facilitator: Tim Jones