The Clinical Information and Management System for Stroke (CIMSS)

Description

Objectives and brief methodology

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability. There is a robust evidence base to support the care of stroke patients on dedicated specialist stroke units. However, this care forms a complex intervention comprising separate, but interlinked components. Although individual care processes are intuitively linked to patient outcome, understanding the nature of these relationships is complicated by the way that care is delivered (care structure), and differences between individuals (case-mix).

An effective electronic infrastructure for capture and feedback of evidence based prospective observational data that describe these interlinked components could allow a better understanding of these complex relationships. Improved understanding of how stroke services function, and evaluation of the impact of proposed improvements to the stroke pathway would offer a number of benefits to patients, healthcare professionals and commissioners.

The overarching aim of CIMSS is to simplify, improve and support the collection of evidence based quality stroke data across the region through development of an electronic infrastructure. In order to achieve this we have a number of objectives:

• Definition of an evidence based dataset comprising four components of stroke care (process, care structure, case-mix and patient outcomes)
• Testing of this preliminary dataset for feasibility and acceptability in three study sites (research phase)
• Examination of existing voluntary and mandatory data requirements in Trusts across the region
• Development of a ‘data dictionary’ from which existing metrics and the CIMSS dataset may be derived
• A bespoke IT solution and implementation strategy for individual Trusts based on preferences (identified through Conjoint Analysis in partnership with the TRiPLaB CLAHRC theme)
• Prospective electronic capture of process, case-mix and outcomes data in participating sites during 2012
• What we collect – data fields are collected at ward level as part of the routine care of the stroke patient. Our aim is that data is captured once and re-used, and that data is recorded by the members of the team responsible for creating it.
• How we collect it – we are exploring novel data entry solutions such as hand held devices or tablet PCs. Bespoke IT and implementation strategies are informed by members of the stroke teams within Trusts rather than a prescriptive or ‘one size fits all’ approach.
• How we report it – reporting of data back to the stroke teams in an accessible format (e.g. a clinical dashboard) could help with service improvements. In addition, routine collection of patient reported outcomes could help to inform individual treatment and rehabilitation goals. At a population level, such data could be fed back to commissioners, or collated for broader comparisons.

Timescales

October 2008 to December 2013

Funding agency

National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)

Further information

For further information contact: Professor Anne Forster on 01274 383406 or by email: a.forster@leeds.ac.uk.