ROCKY MOUNTAIN CANCER DATA
SYSTEMS
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
INTRODUCTION:
The Rocky Mountain Cancer Data
System (RMCDS) is a Windows based software program designed to facilitate
all data entry and statistical analysis functions of a hospital cancer
registry in an efficient and timely manner. The following listing is intended
to summarize as well as describe the capabilities of the system as they
relate to normal registry operations.
General
PASSWORD SECURITY SYSTEM -
Access to the software and confidential patient records is protected by
a password system. This system is flexible enough so that a student or
physician in a hospital can be assigned limited program access (i.e.,
to pursue a special study) yet be denied entry into individual patient
files.
PATIENT INDEX / CASE SEARCH
- The entire master file is indexed six different ways: soundex, birthday,
chart number, SSN, accession number and deleted name. Because of this
flexibility, case lookup on the RMCDS system is not only faster, but more
accurate than any manual system. All possible matches are displayed according
to the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) requirements, however, a look
at the entire case file is also possible in order to verify data elements
of follow-up status.
ABSTRACT DATA SET - The RMCDS
abstracting program accommodates not only the core data set of the ACoS,
but can also accommodate the recommended and extended as well. In addition,
plenty of "user-defined" data fields are available, both in
the regular data screens as well as in an extension record. This extension
record can be customized to your hospital's needs and include up to 60
additional data elements (such as clinical indicators, DRG information,
chemotherapeutic agents, or other optional cancer information.
AUTOCODING IN THE ABSTRACT
PROGRAM - A prompt line for each data field gives the abstractor instructions
as to format and valid codes for that field. When possible codes exceed
a prompt line's capacity (such as geocodes, race/ethnicity codes, and
all therapeutic codes) a full list is obtainable by typing a question
"?" mark. The entire International Classification of Diseases
of Oncology (ICDO) is also built in to the system allowing for fast coding
of topographical and morphological information.
EXTENSIVE ERROR CHECKING PROGRAMS
- The Rocky Mountain system employs an extensive list of field and interfield
edits which check for errors of omission, logic, chronology, and site/histology
incompatibilities. This system is so extensive and thorough that several
national organizations have utilized the RMCDS programs in order to evaluate
the accuracy of large collections of hospital registry data. RMCDS also
has an interface to the NAACCR EDITS program.
ABSTRACT PRINTING AND STORAGE
- The full patient abstract (codes, English meanings and all comment fields
included) can be stored on hard disk, or if storage becomes a problem,
on diskettes. Each individual abstract can be printed on command, even
if stored on a diskette.
DATABASE QUERY AND REPORT GENERATION
SUBSET CREATION - Up to thirty
items can be chosen in any database search. The entire masterfile is indexed
by anatomical site allowing for rapid pulloffs when a particular cancer
site is part of the criteria.
FREQUENCIES - These can be
done for any data field on the regular record or customized 'extension
record' described previously. The RMCDS system's frequency reports not
only list the numerical tabulation of the data element in question, but
calculates percentage, cumulative percentage, median, mode and standard
deviation.
CROSS-TABULATIONS - As with
the frequency reports, any two data elements can be related to each other
in a two-way crosstab table. In addition, a three-way cross tabulation
is also available (a two-way report with a third controlling variable).
STANDARDIZED SUMMARY REPORTS
- Two page summary reports are quickly producible and tabulate common
data elements such as: frequency by year, class of case, sequence number,
treatment modalities, follow-up status, residency, age and histological
distribution.
ACTUARIAL SURVIVAL REPORTS
- Survival reports by the traditional Berkson and Gage method as well
as the non-parametric Kaplan Meier Method are available. Standard errors
are calculated along with the observed and relative survival figures to
allow for tests of significance.
PATIENT LISTING - A registrar
has the choice of several standardized listing formats displaying different
variables on a selected subset. Customized one line listings are available
which adds to the flexiblitiy in displaying and/or printing cancer patient
information. One page 'English Language Abstracts' are also available
for each case in a selected subset.
SUBSET SORTING - Any created
subset can be sorted by up to three variables. This sorting function can
be used in conjunction with listings and survival reports to separate
the data by different variables (i.e. survival by grade or decade of age).
STANDARDIZED REPORTS
PHYSICIAN PATIENT REPORT -
This report provides a useful listing of an individual doctor's patients;
living or deceased, or both.
AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS
FOLLOW-UP REPORT - This report is designed to provide all the statistical
information necessary for the ACoS survey process. It can be run at anytime
however, in order to ascertain current follow-up rates.
ACCESSION BOOK GENERATION -
This program creates a blank accession book for use by the Registry. The
range of numbers is chosen as part of the program query.
LETTERS AND FOLLOW-UP LISTS
- The programs are available on the hospital system to handle all these
functions locally. They are also valuable for creating subsequent, second
letters for lost patients. A customized letter program is also available
for use in those circumstances where patient contact is approved.
ADVANCED FEATURES
MULTIPLE DATABASE HANDLING
- Specialized, separate databases are possible on the same personal computer
if utilizing the RMCDS system. This is a valuable option if a hospital
is interested in recorded information on non-reportable lesions such as
benign colon polyp or basal cell cancers.
INTERFACE WITH GRAPHICS PROGRAMS
- The output of many of the reports, such as frequencies, can be easily
graphed utilizing Microsoft Excel or Corel Quattro Pro.
INTERFACE WITH STATS PACKAGES
- A customized listing of different patient variables can be written to
an ASCII file which can be read by other popular spreadsheet programs
and statistical packages.
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