Improving data quality
Since 2007, the Audit Commission has delivered an assurance programme for Payment by Results (PbR), the NHS tariff for paying acute hospitals. Our work comprises analysis, research, pilot reviews, benchmarking and an audit programme that has checked the accuracy of over £200 million of payments under PbR.
The focus of our work is to improve the quality of data that underpins payments under PbR, but the data we review is also of wider importance to the NHS as it's used to plan and oversee healthcare provision. It also supports effective commissioning.
The development of the award winning National benchmarker allows PCTs and trusts to review and identify not only data quality issues but also to review efficiency and productivity. It is the only independent and comprehensive data quality programme within the NHS.
PbR Data Assurance Framework 2011/12 programme
The Payment by Results (PbR) Data Assurance Framework has been in place for the last four years. During that period it has delivered its aims of improving the quality of data that underpins PbR and providing national assurance of data quality for the PbR system to function robustly. Our 2011/12 programme will consist of the following:
- A continuation of our work on assessing the adequacy of commissioners' arrangements for ensuring the accuracy of its providers' data.
- Follow-up of all previous local work delivered by the assurance framework to ensure actions agreed are carried out locally and improvements secured.
- A national data assurance audit programme at every acute NHS trusts and foundation trust that reviews not only the accuracy of clinical coding but other data that feeds payments under PbR. This will provide commissioners and providers with an overall view on all the underpinning data that can be extrapolated within given confidence intervals.
Details of the full programme were published in January 2011. See:
National data assurance audit programme
We are delivering a full programme of data assurance reviews in 2011/12 at all acute and specialist NHS trusts and foundation trusts. We will review the accuracy of clinical coding and other data that impacts on payments under PbR. The data set that will be audited is:
- Clinical coding – procedure and diagnosis coding;
- Length of Stay;
- Age on admission;
- Sex; and
- Admission method.
The audit will cover 200 Finished Consultant Episodes (FCEs) – 100 FCEs randomly selected from all PbR activity across the Trust and 100 FCEs from a specialty agreed by the lead commissioner.
The NHS Information Centre will provide the data sample to the Audit Commission. Clinical coding auditors will check the data sample against the patient record to test it is accurate.
Summary guidance for Trusts and commissioners will be available in by the end of July.
Details of the dates of audits, the coding firm appointed and the date by which the locally agreed specialty should be confirmed with the Audit Commission is in the National data assurance audit programme schedule.
Evaluation of three years of the PbR Data Assurance Framework
We have carried out an evaluation of the first three years of the Framework to assess how well it has achieved its objectives of driving local improvements in the quality of data and to provide national assurance of the data used in the PbR system.
Guidance for 2011/12 and past work programme
Guidance for the 2011/12 work programme and our past work programme from 2007 until 2011 is also available.