UDS

Uniform Data System (UDS) Reporting Assistance and Process Improvement Discussion (RAPID) Series

​Building Health Center Capacity to Improve Data Collection and Use

Registration to apply for the 2023 Uniform Data System (UDS) Reporting Assistance and Process Improvement Discussion (RAPID) series is now open! The Bureau of Primary Health Care’s (BPHC) UDS RAPID series offers specialized, virtual technical assistance (TA) and peer learning on the UDS clinical quality measures. The purpose of the series is to empower health centers to collect and use quality data, ultimately improving patient care. Below is more information on the series, eligibility, and registration.

About the Series

The 2023 RAPID series fosters virtual peer learning to strengthen health centers’ understanding of UDS clinical quality measure reporting, while building their overall capacity to improve data collection and use. Participants will conduct an in-depth examination of one electronically specified clinical quality measure over six sessions. Activities will include:

  • Developing a road map
  • Exploring examples of value sets, measurement specifications, health center workflows, solutions for standardizing data fields, and data collection of a specific preventative care or screening electronically specified clinical quality measure

RAPID facilitators will select the focal electronically specified clinical quality measure based on participants’ interests and needs expressed in the application process to ensure sessions are highly relevant and engaging.

Program Objectives
Selected participants will be able to:
  • Identify and implement areas where process changes (e.g., workflow, data collection, validation) could improve the accuracy of reporting.
  • Improve understanding of the health center’s process that impacts the UDS clinical quality measure of focus.
  • Understand how accurately reported data can help the health center identify areas for clinical improvement and meet community needs.
  • Know how to apply the identified process changes to collect and report data on similar clinical quality measures.
Date and Location

May-August 2023; 1-hour interactive sessions (all sessions will be virtual)

Schedule

Session 1, May: Understanding Your Own UDS Reporting
Session 2, June: Understanding Your Measure of Focus
Session 3, July: Working Towards Your Goal
Session 4, August: Planning for and Spreading Success
2 sessions between June-August: Presentation from subject matter experts and facilitated discussion on Data Governance and Process Mapping

Eligibility and How to Apply

To ensure effective and compelling peer learning and discussions, the program facilitators will assign selected participants to a cohort with other health centers that have similar characteristics (e.g., goals, interests, and challenges). This year’s RAPID series will include up to three cohorts, each focused on a different electronically specified clinical quality measure. Due to limited space, priority will be given to health centers with:

  • Quality improvement and support staff
  • UDS experience
  • EHR capabilities
  • EHR use for reporting UDS Tables 6B and 7 (no sampling)
  • No change to EHR vendor in the past year
  • No recent or pending operational site visit
  • No prior year participation in RAPID  
  • UDS clinical quality measure performance rates comparatively lower than peer health centers
Is Your Health Center a Good Fit?

To determine if your health center is a good match for RAPID, consider the following:

  • Are there system (e.g., patient registration, EHR) issues that prevent the health center from consistently submitting accurate clinical quality measure data?  
  • Do health center staff spend considerable time correcting systems, producing reports, and investigating outputs, year after year?  
  • Are there gaps in health center processes for collecting the necessary patient demographic, service, and/or clinical data?  
  • Are there barriers (e.g., workflow, staffing) that can be overcome if given guidance and action steps?  
  • Is there a team of staff who can commit approximately five hours per month for four months to attend and actively participate in peer-learning TA sessions?

If you answered yes to these questions, we strongly encourage you to sign up for the RAPID series! Registration is open until Friday, April 14.

 
Process
  1. Complete one registration per health center by April 14. You are encouraged to coordinate response internally prior to submitting registration for your health center.
  2. We will review applications, select qualified participants, and place health centers in cohorts. Cohorts will be determined based on the three electronically specified clinical quality measures most commonly identified by applying health centers.
  3. We will notify all applicants of participation decisions by no later than April 26. Selected participants will be notified of their cohort assignment and will be provided session log-in information.
  4. Complete a brief initial assessment (one per health center team) prior to the start of the series to help facilitators better tailor session content to meet your needs.
  5. Participate in six virtual sessions beginning in late May.
  6. Complete activities between and during sessions to promote critical thinking and peer sharing about process improvements.
  7. Complete a post-series evaluation.

FAQ

Q: If we register to apply, will we have a confirmed spot in the series?

A:  Once you register, your health center will be added to the pool of applicants under consideration for a spot in one of the three cohorts, if eligibility criteria is met. Applicants will receive an initial response shortly after registering to inform if minimum eligibility has been met. However, space is limited and we cannot guarantee all registered health centers a place in the program. All applicants will receive a response no later than April 26 to inform them if they are accepted into the program.

Q: How will you select RAPID participants?

A: To ensure effective and compelling peer learning and discussions, we will assess eligibility and then do our best to match participants into cohorts with other health centers that are similar in organization, goals, interests, and challenges. As we assess applicants, we will be looking for health centers to meet minimum eligibility criteria ranging from staffing experiences to data, clinical, and EHR capabilities. This information will be supplemented with UDS four key performance areas: financial, clinical, patient criteria, and UDS reporting criteria (e.g., ratings, EHR reporting, revisions, submissions dates), as well as organizational characteristics (e.g., urban/rural, size of health center, services provided, grants, geographic location) to match health centers to the measures of focus.

Q: If selected, are we required to attend each session?

A: We ask that you actively participate in all sessions and activities before, between, and at the end of the series. These sessions and activities will be most valuable if all participants are sharing their insights and experiences with each other to inform and drive the sessions, as well as the changes you want to see at your organization in addressing data concerns.

Q: Who from my health center needs to participate?

A: We recommend a team-based approach for UDS reporting and data analysis, and we want you to take the same approach for the RAPID series. While we know that the team composition may vary based on your health center operations, we recommend your team would include:

  • A Champion: This person will be the overall lead and point of contact for the health center team. The champion will identify appropriate team members to join specific sessions and handle any needed coordination between sessions. The Champion is expected to attend all learning sessions.
  • Other members may include: Data/EHR specialist, UDS submitter, clinical representative, and quality representative.

All team members are welcome to attend all the sessions.

Q: Will sessions be recorded?

A: Yes, each session will be recorded, and the slides and materials will be available for participants to review between sessions.

Q: Are there any other activities or requirements outside of the six total sessions?

A: Yes, the series includes the following in addition to the sessions:

  • Assessment Tool: Prior to the start of the first session, health centers will complete an initial assessment to help RAPID facilitators better tailor session content. Each health center team will complete one assessment. We estimate that this will take no longer than 10-15 minutes to complete.
  • Session Action Work: Participants will complete activities between each session to promote critical thinking about process improvements and help you meet your team’s self-identified goals.
  • Evaluation: Health centers will be asked to complete a brief survey following each session to provide feedback. At the end of the series, health centers will complete an evaluation to reflect on the series as a whole.
Q: Will anything our health center shares be used outside the sessions?

A: RAPID group discussions will only focus on processes. Any data shared with the group will be blinded, so no identifying information will be provided about your organization.

Registration

Contact

For questions about the series or UDS RAPID application process, please contact: udsrapid@jsi.com