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The Value of Data Collection within a Palliative Care Program

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Abstract

Collecting reliable and valid data is an increasing expectation within palliative care. Data remain the crux for demonstrating value and quality of care, which are the critical steps to program sustainability. Parallel goals of conducting research and performing quality assessment and improvement can also ensure program growth, financial health, and viability in an increasingly competitive environment. Mounting expectations by patients, hospitals, and payers and inevitable pay-for-performance paradigms have transitioned data collection procedures from novel projects to expected standard operation within usual palliative care delivery. We present types of data to collect, published guides for data collection, and how data can inform quality, value, and research within a palliative care organization. Our experiences with the Quality Data Collection Tool (QDACT) in the Carolinas Palliative Care Consortium to collect data on quality have led to valuable lessons learned in creating a data collection system. Suggested steps in forming data-sharing collaborations and building data collection procedures are shared.

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Disclosure

A. H. Kamal: none; D. C. Currow: none; C. Ritchie: none; J. Bull: honoraria from Meda and Archimedes, and payment for development of educational presentations from Pfizer and Meda; J. L. Wheeler: none; A. P. Abernethy: consultant to Helsinn, Proventys, and Amgen.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Duke Cancer Care Research Program, Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, NC, USA

    Arif H. Kamal, Jane L. Wheeler & Amy P. Abernethy

  2. Department of Palliative and Supportive Services, Flinders University, Flinders, South Australia

    David C. Currow

  3. Birmingham-Atlanta VA Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) and the Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, University of Alabama, Birmingham, USA

    Christine Ritchie

  4. Four Seasons Hospice, Flat Rock, NC, USA

    Janet Bull

  5. Duke University Medical Center, Box 3436, Durham, NC, 27710, USA

    Amy P. Abernethy

Authors
  1. Arif H. Kamal
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  2. David C. Currow
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  3. Christine Ritchie
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  4. Janet Bull
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  5. Jane L. Wheeler
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  6. Amy P. Abernethy
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amy P. Abernethy.

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Kamal, A.H., Currow, D.C., Ritchie, C. et al. The Value of Data Collection within a Palliative Care Program. Curr Oncol Rep 13, 308–315 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-011-0178-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-011-0178-8

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