The letter by Neil Finer and others raises important questions around
quality and completeness of data used for national benchmarking.
The authors criticise the quality of NNAP data used in the published
2012 report. They show in one unit where there were inaccuracies due to
data not being entered into the Badger system. They give examples of how
the Badger system possibly contributed to the problem by not aler...
The letter by Neil Finer and others raises important questions around
quality and completeness of data used for national benchmarking.
The authors criticise the quality of NNAP data used in the published
2012 report. They show in one unit where there were inaccuracies due to
data not being entered into the Badger system. They give examples of how
the Badger system possibly contributed to the problem by not alerting
users adequately to missing data.
The NNAP project gives the neonatal community in UK a unique
opportunity to analyse whole population data. I hope these reported
problems with NNAP data are not seen as a reason to stop national audit
and benchmarking but as a reminder of the need to take seriously the
collection of better data. It is inevitably an iterative process and NNAP
is continuing to evolve and improve. The neonatal community must continue
to support the very important role of a national benchmarking project.
The requirements of NNAP are published and units should have in place
systems to ensure timely collection of important data.
Clevermed is committed to working with users, and with NNAP, to
assist in the collection of data that are complete and of good quality, as
well ensuring timely and correct downloads.
Since 2012 the 'idiosyncrasies' referred to in the letter have
already been addressed within the new version of the software (BadgerNet)
and further improvements are due for release. There are also many more
lists, dashboards and reports that help users check the quality and
completeness of their data. I believe that the quality and completeness
of ROP screening data within the system has already improved significantly
since 2012.
More than 80% of units have changed (at no charge) to the new version
of the software and Clevermed aims to complete the migration by the end of
2014 when the older Badger 3 will no longer be supported.
Conflict of Interest:
Dr Andrew Lyon works with, and receives payment from, Clevermed Ltd.
We are sorry to hear that colleagues at the Royal Free Hospital felt
that our analysis of the data they provided did not reflect the realities
of what is happening in their neonatal unit.
We have already made significant changes to the processes for the
2013 data, which is expected to be published this October. NNAP now
includes entries in either of the locations within the badger system
("daily data" or "ad h...
We are sorry to hear that colleagues at the Royal Free Hospital felt
that our analysis of the data they provided did not reflect the realities
of what is happening in their neonatal unit.
We have already made significant changes to the processes for the
2013 data, which is expected to be published this October. NNAP now
includes entries in either of the locations within the badger system
("daily data" or "ad hoc forms") as indicating that an ROP screen took
place. Furthermore, we have worked with the software supplier so that
within the current version of the software an entry in the daily data to
indicate that an ROP screen took place now automatically opens an ad hoc
form, where the rest of the details of the ROP screen can be entered.
We hope that these measures, and others such as the inclusion of post
discharge ROP screens conducted at the correct time, will help NNAP and
its participant units to highlight good practice, as well as identifying
any units where adherence to national guidance is not yet complete.
We also agree that training users in data entry, ensuring staff
understand the significance of data entry and reviewing data prior to its
use for national audit, is crucial for the audit to be effective.
Finally, it is good to hear that the unit is reviewing its processes
in response to the NNAP findings, as the main aim of the audit is to
ensure best practice is shared to improve care for newborns.
The letter by Neil Finer and others raises important questions around quality and completeness of data used for national benchmarking.
The authors criticise the quality of NNAP data used in the published 2012 report. They show in one unit where there were inaccuracies due to data not being entered into the Badger system. They give examples of how the Badger system possibly contributed to the problem by not aler...
We are sorry to hear that colleagues at the Royal Free Hospital felt that our analysis of the data they provided did not reflect the realities of what is happening in their neonatal unit.
We have already made significant changes to the processes for the 2013 data, which is expected to be published this October. NNAP now includes entries in either of the locations within the badger system ("daily data" or "ad h...
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