AAO Creates Eye Care Data Base

"The American Academy of Ophthalmology on Monday announced plans for an EHR-linked eye disease database that will enable ophthalmologists nationwide to statistically analyze and benchmark their own care," reports Health Care IT News. "Billed as the first such centralized repository in the nation, the Intelligent Research in Sight Registry and reporting tool gathers data from electronic health records and performs statistical analysis of aggregated, de-identified patient data to produce national and practice-level benchmark reports, say AAO officials. These reports can validate the quality of care ophthalmologists provide and pinpoint opportunities for improvement, officials say. By assessing their quality of care rates and studying best practices, ophthalmologists can develop a strategic plan for improving patient outcomes." Read more.