Commonly Asked Questions About CareConnections Outcomes System
TAI > Tools For Physical Therapists > CareConnections Outcomes > FAQs
- What are Functional Outcomes?
- How does CareConnections differ from other systems?
- How many subscribers currently use CareConnections? What is the geographic distribution?
- How large is the database?
- What does CareConnections measure, and how can I use the data?
- Is CareConnections JCAHO approved?
- How is Outcomes data collected?
- What about HIPAA?
- What kinds of reports will I receive?
- What kind of training and support services does CareConnections provide?
- What about reliability and validity?
- What are the contractual requirements for CareConnections?
- What are Functional Outcomes?
- Functional outcomes describe what happens as the result of therapeutic intervention. If a patient receives therapy at your facility, do they get better? How has their function improved? This is what functional outcomes tell you.
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- How does CareConnections differ from other systems?
- CareConnections is diagnostic specific.
- Subscribers will receive outcomes information categorized by five diagnostic groups. This allows you to discuss function as it relates to utilization by diagnostic groups when meeting with referral and payer groups.
- Data collection reports are user friendly. The system is easy to administer and easy to interpret. The impact on therapists is only to use the data to write functional goals and assess the efficacy of treatment.
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- How many subscribers currently use CareConnections? What is the geographic distribution?
- Approximately 575 facilities currently subscribe to CareConnections Outcomes System.
- Subscribers are mostly outpatient rehabilitation clinics and hospital-based outpatient clinics.
- TAOS subscribers are located in 33 states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
- Six statewide physical therapy networks are represented: Northwest Rehab Alliance (Washington), Northwest Rehab Alliance (Oregon), Midwest Rehabilitation Network (Wisconsin), Southern Physical Therapy Network (Alabama, Louisiana), Southern Physical Rehabilitation Network (Louisiana), and PTPN (Louisiana).
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- How large is the database?
- Approximately 21,000 episodes were represented in 1st quarter 2006. CareConnections typically averages between 21,000 and 22,000 records per quarter.
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- What does CareConnections measure, and how can I use the data?
- CareConnections Outcomes System provides five data points:
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- Utilization
- Functional Index
- Perceived Pain
- Perceived Improvement
- Work Days Lost
- Additional information provided on Work Status and Acuity.
- Outcome data is used in the national database for comparative information.
- Additionally it may be used as part of the CareConnections database for research articles or presentations.
- Subscriber utilization of outcomes may include:
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- Identification of efficacy of intervention
- Quantifiable patient progress for referral sources
- Identification of best practice / therapist for overall education
- Data for referral sources and payers on effectiveness of treatment
- Marketing for contract negotiation with payers
- Performance appraisals
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- Is CareConnections JCAHO approved?
- CareConnections Outcomes Instrument has met the criteria for inclusion in the accreditation process and is included on the Joint Commission's list of acceptable systems.
- CareConnections is committed to meeting future criteria established by JCAHO
- Although outpatient rehab outcomes are not yet required by JCAHO, site surveyors have responded positively to hospital departments using CareConnections Outcomes in their outpatient clinics.
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- How is Outcomes data collected?
- Subscriber collects data via patient worksheet that is completed by the patient on initial and discharge visits. Office staff scores the patient worksheet and inputs results on CareConnections online Web site.
- Time involved in collecting and submitting data is approximately five minutes per episode. All data collection and input is done by the front office.
- Therapist involvement is only in the application of the information, to set patient goals, discuss patient input on their condition, and to assess patient status.
- Internet-based data entry and Outcomes reports
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- What about HIPAA ?
- Therapeutic Associates meets the criteria for a Business Associate under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations. Subscribers will be provided with a Business Associate Addendum to supplement our base CareConnections Participant Agreement.
- Under the HIPAA privacy rule, covered entities may disclose protected health information regarding their patients for health care operations. This includes disclosures to CareConnections that help the subscriber evaluate the performance of their staff therapists and the overall effectiveness of their services to facilitate improvement and become more efficient with care.
- The CareConnections Web site is secure and has been developed to comply with the impending HIPAA security rule deadlines.
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- What kinds of reports will I receive?
- Quarterly Outcomes reports include: (click on the link for a sample report)
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- Comparative report shows patient demographic information and overall outcomes scores in the areas of pain, function and improvement.
- Body Part Analysis report shows outcomes broken down by anatomical region. Individual facility data is compared to a network and the national database. The network would be defined as subscriber's clinics for a multi-site operation or a defined network group. If you do not belong to a multi-site operation, you are automatically compared to the other single entity clinics subscribing to CareConnections (however, you may choose a population to be compared against).
- Therapist Outcomes report provides therapist outcomes categorized by anatomical area.
- Work Data graph compares lost work information for the subscriber's clinic.
- Summary/Marketing report shows anatomical and overall Outcomes scores for current quarter. This report is most commonly used for marketing purposes.
- Clinical Comparative report (for multi-site subscribers).
- Reports are posted online by the fourth week of the month following the end of the quarter. The final deadline for Outcomes information is the 10th of the month following the end of the quarter.
- Custom reports are available upon request. Common requests are reports that show outcomes by diagnostic group (ICD-9), by referring physician or by insurance group. Subscriber must submit parameters for customized reports
- Dependent on volume, the subscriber should have meaningful data during the first quarter the system is implemented.
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- What kind of training and support services does CareConnections provide?
- CareConnections is a very user-friendly system with minimal training required. The user's manual will provide information on implementing the gathering of data and the data input. The Outcomes System was specifically developed to have minimal impact in clinic operation, therefore enhancing compliance and maximum benefit for the clinician and patient.
- Should the subscriber require additional training, phone or e-mail support is available. For multi-site operations, onsite training may be arranged.
- Once your account is activated, support services are provided on request from subscriber.
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- What about reliability and validity?
- Reliability and validity information is detailed in the article TAOS Functional Index: Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Outcomes Tool, published in the Journal of Rehabilitation Outcomes Measurement, May 1998 (J Rehabil Outcomes Meas, 1998, 2(2), 55-61 © 1998 Aspen Publishers, Inc.).
- The CareConnections Outcomes System is a self-reporting system; therefore, rater reliability is not an issue and does not require a credentialing process.
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- What are the contractual requirements for CareConnections?
- Subscriber is expected to pay all fees on a timely basis, return signed agreement upon receipt of CareConnections materials, and report data by indicated deadline for each data quarter.
- CareConnections agrees to provide subscriber with data collection forms, training, technical support, quarterly reports, and customized reports as requested.
- Depending on subscriber's needs, modification of the contract can be considered.
- Subscribers will be invoiced annually based on date of initial subscription.
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