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February 2000
Volume 64 |
Number 2
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WHAT'S NEW IN ...
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| ...Information
Management, Data Collection and Analyses |
John R. Moyers, M.D., Chair
Committee on Information Management
In August 1998, the ASA Task Force on Data Collection recommended
that a Committee on Information Management be established to evaluate,
coordinate and provide quality control for ASA data collection
efforts. The bylaws were amended to establish a standing committee
with the following duties:
A. To assure the confidentiality and security of data collection,
analyses and reports.
B. To control the access to data analyses and reports.
C. To develop mechanisms that provide quality control for
data collection, analyses and reporting.
D. To coordinate and prioritize data collection, analyses
and reports.
E. To assess the financial impact of data collection requests
and make recommendations to the Board of Directors and House of
Delegates.
The current members of the committee are: Jeffrey L. Apfelbaum,
M.D.; Karl E. Becker, Jr., M.D.; John R. Blair, M.D.; Jerry A.
Cohen, M.D.; Joanne M. Conroy, M.D.; Alexander A. Hannenberg,
M.D.; Robert S. Lagasse, M.D.; Roger W. Litwiller, M.D.; Douglas
G. Merrill, M.D.; John R. Moyers, M.D. (Chair); Keith J. Ruskin,
M.D.; Stanley W. Stead, M.D.; and Denham S. Ward, M.D. The committee
has been working closely with Ronald A. Bruns and Jill M. Sidoti
from the ASA Executive Office and Michael Scott from the ASA Washington
Office. The committee received its charge from then ASA President
John B. Neeld, Jr., M.D., and has reviewed the report of the Task
Force on Data Collection, the responses from many ASA committee
chairs with regard to data collection and the ASA strategic plan.
The group has conducted business electronically and through
two meetings. It has begun work on several initiatives on different
fronts in an attempt to fulfill our charge and mission. The committee
has been working closely with Douglas G. Merrill, M.D., and the
Committee on Pain Management on the request for proposal for the
Outcomes Database for Pain Management and with the Committee on
Performance-Based Credentialing. A proposal from the Society of
Academic Anesthesiology Chairs/Association of Anesthesiology Program
Directors was brought to the committee by Denham S. Ward, M.D.,
to survey graduating anesthesiology residents with respect to
practice opportunities and other issues. There now exists a subcommittee
of the Committee on Information Management with a few ASA appointees
on the ASA-ABA Joint Council on In-Training Examinations who will
work on specific items to be included in such a survey and who
will find the best method for gathering that data. A subcommittee
chaired by Alexander A. Hannenburg, M.D., will work on expanding
the ASA demographic database to include information about modes
of practice and economic features. The subcommittee on the demographic
database is integrating its efforts with the Committee on Physician
Resources and with the activities of the ASA Washington Office.
The goal is to expand the demographic picture of the specialty
necessary for support of survey and sampling activities of the
Society. Using the existing framework of the annual member survey,
this subcommittee wishes to add additional data elements about
practice and economic issues particular to anesthesiologists.
The plan is to employ survey techniques that are valid and to
ask for information in a form that can be easily submitted by
the membership and is valuable to the Society from a practice
point of view. For example, there is now some discussion at the
federal level about anesthesiologists who have nurses in their
groups. Data concerning the prevalence of this practice arrangement
across the country would be very helpful in addressing the issue.
The committee and the officers of the Society have had concerns
with regard to the legal and confidentiality ramifications in
maintaining large databases of sensitive information. The committee
has discussed its concerns with Michael Scott, Director of Governmental
and Legal Affairs, and an expert on intellectual property about
maintaining confidential and secure information. The sensitive
information of the Society must be appropriately secure and protected
so that we may continue to provide the best care for our patients
and advance the other goals of the organization.
Dr. Neeld has written to committee chairs asking that they continue
to allow the Committee on Information Management to help them
with their database and information management requirements. The
committee welcomes suggestions and input from the membership as
we attempt to integrate the data needs of ASA and related organizations
into a coordinated, efficient and cost-effective information management
strategy.
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