A patient who had a diagnosis of COPD made or prostate cancer in late 2003
shouldn't have it code as 2005 when they register with us as the condition
predates it. At that pont there is no way that any investigation we perform
can fulfil the criteria as the criteria for diagnoses after 1/4/03 (fixed
date)are that the relevant code for spirometry/ echocardiogram or cancer
care review is made within 12months (6m for the cancer care review).
An exception code used as David Brown suggested is reasonable but will
need re-entering every year. The words on a printout of 'cancer care review'
in many pages from the previous may well be difficult to find when they
register with us, assuming the printout of computer records is complete.
Dr Angus Goudie
Kepier Medical Practice
Leyburn Grove, Houghton le Spring
Tyne & Wear, DH4 5EQ
(0191) 5846324
NEW eMAIL: [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Hendry [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 27 August 2004 19:12
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: QOF 6 and 12month window
Goudie wrote:
> I wonder if anyone can shed any light on this? I'm concerned
> that as the months/years roll by the majority of my patients
> with cancer onset after 1/4/03 will be those with relatively
> benign or cured cancers from previous practices. They will
> count against me for points unless I have been able to
> extract cancer care review done from their old records in the
> 6m after diagnosis at the previous GP. The same will apply
> to COPD who were diagnosed elsewhere and had or didn't have
> spirometry done. A significant proportion of my points will
> then depend on how good the last GP was, how well he recorded
> it in the version of the record I received printed out, and
> how sharp the eyes of my receptionist who trawls the incoming notes
> and summarises them. Is this area being addressed?
>
> Dr Angus Goudie
> Kepier Medical Practice
> Leyburn Grove, Houghton le Spring
> Tyne & Wear, DH4 5EQ
> (0191) 5846324
> NEW eMAIL: [log in to unmask]
Just don't code them into your system until you've done your stuff on
them.
We're ensuring that we don't encode a diagnosis of angina until it has
been properly established by ETT, COPD by spirometry etc.
Until the diagnosis has been confirmed it's "Chest pain", "SOBE" or
whatever. Entirely proper, I think you'll agree.
Michael
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