Improve recording of HbA1c results
- HbA1c is regarded as the gold standard for assessing glycaemic control.
- Accurate recording of HbA1c allows treatment goals to be set and monitored.
- Patients can get to know what their target HbA1c level is and the reason for targets (including the increased risk of diabetic complications with higher levels of HbA1c).
This quality improvement activity supports practices improve their recording of patient smoking status, directly related to Quality Improvement Measure # 1 in the practice incentives program (PIPQI) – Proportion of regular clients with diabetes with an HbA1c result recorded in their GP record within the previous 12 months.
Goal
Improve recording of HbA1c result for patients with diabetes.
Measure of success
Percentage of patients with diabetes with HbA1c result recorded.
Actions
- Measure your baseline with PenCAT recipe for HbA1c data collection.
- 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.
- Visit HealthPathways – Diabetes Screening and Diagnosis.
- Review RACGP’s Improving health record quality in general practice to help produce and maintain high-quality patient records.
- Phillips, PJ., HbA1c and monitoring glycaemia