22. Some successes and failures with long-term care data systems: the Rhode Island experience

A project by Rhode Island Health Services Research (SEARCH) to develop, adapt, and improve data systems in several Rhode Island long-term care settings includes skilled nursing and intermediate care facilities, two chronic care hospitals, mental health institutions, and home health agencies. A successful medical review system was developed for Medicaid nursing home patients which is now a program funded by the state, as well as a good abstracting system for the two chronic hospitals. Also, steps were taken to correct omissions and inaccuracies found in mental health data used in the Multi-State Information System (MSIS), and to modify a limited management information system used by home health agencies. In retrospect, the project would have been better served had it attempted to be less comprehensive and instead focused its resources in areas of high visibility and unequivocal public concern. The approach would have given the state population-based information of much greater power than is currently available, despite the recognized successes of the project in the nursing home and chronic hospital areas.