FROM: Theodore O. Will, Chief Executive Officer
DATE: Jan 30, 2003
SUBJECT: CMS Abstraction & Reporting Tool (CART) Update
IPRO CONTACTS:
Marguerite Shaffer, RN, Senior Director, Improvement Strategies, ext. 634
Kathleen Giardelli, MPS, Assistant Director, Systems Analysis, ext. 420
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released version 1.3 of the CMS Abstraction & Reporting Tool (CART). This updated version, along with an associated database patch (cart_db_1.3.1) and updated documentation, as well as all future updates, can be downloaded from the QualityNet Exchange web site at www.qnetexchange.org.
As you know, CART is the integrated national data abstraction tool for hospitals. This data abstraction tool allows healthcare providers the ability to collect data on any of the four national CMS clinical topics for hospitals (Acute Myocardial Infarction, Heart Failure, Pneumonia, and Surgical Infection Prevention) and meets CMS guidelines, as well as JCAHO guidelines. Data abstracted using CART can be submitted directly into QualityNet Exchange.
QualityNet (QNet) Exchange is an interactive web site that provides for the exchange of information between the QIO and providers. QNet Exchange is an important resource for all New York hospitals to obtain updates to software, new educational initiative alerts, the latest CMS and IPRO news, best practices, as well as to exchange data between IPRO and hospitals. For your convenience, we have enclosed a copy of the QNet Exchange registration form. We strongly urge you, if you have not already done so, to register for QNet Exchange.
IPRO anticipates that CMS will periodically update the CART tool. In the future, IPRO intends to transition to the use of other media (e.g., email) to notify hospitals of these updates.
Should you have any questions regarding this memorandum, the use of CART and QualityNet Exchange, or general questions regarding the transition to hospital-generated data, please contact Marguerite Shaffer at (516) 326-7767, ext. 634.