To: Data Managers for the STS National Database
From: STS National Database Sub Committee for Definitions
Date: September 1, 2000
Re: Definition ChangesThe committee would like to take this opportunity to thank those individuals who attended the August 17th and 18th meeting. We are certain that you found the meeting valuable and worthwhile. For those who could not attend we would like to take this opportunity to explain to you the system currently in place for addressing definition issues.
The STS has received immense feedback from Data Managers via the Discussion Forum (Issues in Data Collection) on the Web and phone calls related to definition clarification. A "Definition Sub-Committee" comprised of Surgeons, Statisticians, and Data Managers was formed to address definition issues related to the National STS Cardiac Database. The Definition Sub-Committee met at least once weekly over the period of two months to discuss problems with specific identified data elements and definitions. As a product of the committee's efforts, the Definition Clarification Document was developed and presented at the Summer Data Manager's Meeting in Chicago on August 18th, 2000. The implementation of these revised definitions should be used on all Adult Cardiac operative procedures performed as of July 1, 2000 or as soon as possible for those centers that are more current in their data collection efforts.
With regards to the Discussion Forum we are asking that as questions are posted regarding data collection and definitions that you not respond to those until the STS has had an opportunity to review the question and provide the most accurate answer to the question. We will do our best to answer the question in the most expedited manner. A new process is currently under review for submitting questions to the STS but until that is final please follow the guidelines outlined above.
Also included is a list of issues that were raised at the meeting that the committee is currently addressing. There are some changes that will require the software vendors to make changes to the current version of software. The STS will provide these updates once final to each fully certified vendor.
On a closing note, the committee did walk away from the meeting with much gratitude and appreciation for what you as data collectors do for the STS National Database. We all recognize that patients present differently every day. Continuing to code each patient to the best of your ability is what will make the STS National Database the premier outcomes program that it is.