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The Swedish Cancer Institute (SCI), based in Seattle, Wash.,
opened in 1932 as the first dedicated cancer care center west of
the Mississippi. Today, the SCI is one of the Pacific
Northwest’s top cancer treatment and clinical research centers,
bringing together the region’s most advanced cancer fighting
resources and setting the highest standards for patient care.
Maintaining Accreditation
After achieving the status of a preeminent cancer-care center,
with an approved program from the American College of
Surgeons (ACoS), the challenge for SCI is to continue meet
ACoS standards (only one in five hospitals attain). ACoS
requires high standards of data integrity for cancer registries,
and SCI has found that the IMPAC MRS cancer registry system has
helped them meet this challenge head on. The next survey is
scheduled for September 2005.
SCI participates in the Call for Data from the ACoS National
Cancer Database. ACoS now grants registries a “commendation
rating” if they submit their data to the NCDB meeting the
quality criteria on the initial submission (no data quality
problems and no rejected records). ACoS also requires
abstracting to be 90% complete within six months. Margaret
Kimball, RHIT, CTR, SCI’s cancer registry manager, stated “the
MRS system has helped us to go above and beyond the
requirements.”
SCI uses DeathMatch™, an automated mortality database that
tracks deceased patients by utilizing Social Security records
and automatically updating the cancer registry data.
This module is a very fast and efficient tool. With 3,800 new
cases each year, and a total of almost 30,000 patients,
utilizing the Death Match twice a year helps SCI maintain the
required high follow-up rates.
Ease of Use
According to Kimball, the MRS system is quick and easy to use
since all screens are organized in a way that makes data entry
flow logically. The system follows the FORDS layout and includes
features such as built-in edit checks, and online references to
Collaborative Staging that speeds up the process. Kimball added
“The system flows naturally and it provides an instant
clarification of data fields at the touch of a key. It certainly
helps us to go faster which is important with our high volume.”
MRS also has built-in HIPAA precautions, to assist us in
maintaining tracking compliance.
Advanced Reporting
SCI uses standard and advanced reporting capabilities from MRS
to help specify groups and track results. Kimball explained,
“The reporting capabilities are quick and easy. You can report
on whatever you want, including hospital defined fields. When
physicians request reports on a very specific group, we have the
ability to provide them the results in a short amount of time.
It’s always a rewarding experience when you can provide the
physicians exactly what they need, and get it to them before
they expect it.”
Technical Support
The SCI staff also continues to be impressed with the service
provided by IMPAC, adding that “the staff creating new versions
with the latest standards and updates in order to fine-tune the
product do a great job. Our registry product specialist provides
us with quick assistance when needed to utilize the system.”
Kimball concluded “The IMPAC support staff also has utilized
WebEx to train staff, and to diagnose issues with our database
remotely. This feature is very fast and efficient.” |
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Swedish Cancer Institute, Seattle, Washington |
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[Email
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