CSP launches bid to close community rehab data gaps

The CSP aims to map how data is used across the allied health professions (AHP) to improve patients’ access to rehabilitation services – particularly those in the community.

Historically, low levels of data collection in community rehab has left services with little evidence to prove that they are under-resourced and over-subscribed.

It is hoped the data map will also help services define their role, demonstrate their impact and showcase patient improvement.

AHPs are urged to support the project by filling in a short survey on their use of databases, even if they don’t use any.

CSP health informatics lead Euan McComiskie says, ‘There is a national physiotherapy data deficit, particularly in community services.

We want to know more about current presence or absence of data collection in these services to strengthen our work to make these services, as all physiotherapy services, data-rich and using that intelligence to provide the best services to our patients.

‘We expect that senior members of clinical, managerial or digital staff will complete the survey, rather than all staff. But in order to get a wide selection of views from as many places as we can, we are asking all members to share the survey among colleagues and other networks.’

Members of all of the UK’s community rehabilitation alliances are being sent the survey, which will map use of all local, regional and national level databases, whether web-based, electronic or paper based.

The databases may be condition-specific or patient cohort-specific (SSNAP or UKROC), based on clinical data (CSDS or AHPOMs) or other gatherings of data.

The survey should be completed before 24 August.