Improve recording of weight classification
Overweight and obesity are primary, preventable risk factors for severe long-term illnesses like Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension, and certain cancers. Conversely, being underweight can signal malnutrition or underlying immune issues. With appropriate data recording, General practices can instantly identify at-risk populations to invite them in for proactive lifestyle interventions, dietetics, or chronic disease management plans.
This quality improvement activity supports practices improve their recording of patient weight classification, directly related to Quality Improvement Measure # 3 in the practice incentives program (PIPQI) – Proportion of regular clients with a current height and weight classification recorded in their GP record and a derived BMI result
Goal
Increase recording of weight classification.
Measure of success
Percentage of patients with weight classification recorded.
Actions
- Measure your baseline recording with Pen CAT recipe for BMI.
- Review and analyse current practice processes in recording and maintaining data quality with the team.
- How is clinical data currently being collected?
- What are the common barriers to capturing and managing clinical data?
- How could we overcome these barriers and improve the process?
- Outline the process for clinical data collection
- Place software recording instructions in an accessible place for any person who enters data and ensure all staff are trained on the process.
Tools and resouces
These resources are designed to assist you through the process.
- Review RACGP’s Improving health record quality in general practice to help produce and maintain high-quality patient records.