
How are Chart Reviews dealt with in a research study?
In most cases, chart reviews are dealt with via a delegated ethic review process. On rare occasions, such as the collection of sensitive data, the study may have to be reviewed at the full board. 4. Do I need to obtain informed consent when conducting a chart review?
What is a prospective chart review?
A Prospective Chart Review evaluates patient data that does not yet exist in the subject's medical record at the time the project is submitted for initial REB review. 2. What do I need to do before conducting a chart review?
How should a second reviewer re-abstract a sample of charts?
A second reviewer should re-abstract a sample of charts, blinded to the information obtained by the first correlation reviewer. Gilbert EH, Lowenstein SR, Koziol-McLain J, Barta DC, Steiner J. Chart reviews in emergency medicine research: Where are the methods?
How to design a retrospective chart review study?
Table 1. Summary of considerations for designing retrospective chart reviews studies Create well-defined, clearly articulated research questions Consider sampling questions a priori Operationalize variables included in retrospective chart review Train and monitor data abstractors Develop and use standardized data abstraction forms

Why do a retrospective chart review?
Retrospective Chart Review- evaluates patient data that is existing at the time the protocol is submitted to the IRB for initial approval. This type of chart review uses information that has usually been collected for reasons other than research.
What is healthcare chart review?
Clinical record review or chart review is a previously recorded data to answer clinical queries. Such a study can be used to answer specific clinical questions in a relatively easy and less resource intensive manner. But these studies may be constrained by the limited information retrievable and inadequacy of records.
What is a prospective chart review?
A Prospective Chart Review evaluates patient data that does not yet exist in the subject's medical record at the time the project is submitted for initial REB review.
What type of study is retrospective chart review?
The retrospective chart review (RCR), also known as a medical record review, is a type of research design in which pre-recorded, patient-centered data are used to answer one or more research questions [1].
What are the types of medical charting?
Different types of Medical Chart ReviewsChart review for medical needs:Chart review for legal purposes:Chart review for employee benefits and disability claims:Chart review for clinical documentation:Chart reviews for insurance support:
What is a chart review record?
Chart reviews are a type of encounter data record that allow Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs) to add or remove diagnoses that they identified through medical record reviews that were not initially reported on encounter data records.
What can be found in chart review?
Chart review is where you can find the patient's chart. In chart review you can review any report Epic has ever created for the patient. Each tab in chart review contains different types of information. A default filter is applied to all items in Chart Review, this hides billing information from the average viewer.
What does a chart review nurse do?
As a chart review nurse, you review patient healthcare information and records. Your duties include defining the level of care, determining the necessity of procedures related to diagnosis, and assessing discharge procedures.
Why do chart reviews?
Chart review in this case is meant to provide a medical opinion regarding the worker's injury and how it restricts him/her from carrying out their customary duties. While employees with on the job injuries are treated by their own doctors, it is the insurer that decides whether their claim is valid or not.
Is a retrospective study a systematic review?
Systematic reviews are by nature, however, retrospective because the trials included are usually identified after the trials have been completed and the results reported (Pogue 1998, Zanchetti 1998).
Is a retrospective chart review a cross sectional study?
Retrospective studies could either be descriptive or analytical. Descriptive retrospective studies are case series and cross sectional studies, while analytical retrospective studies are cross sectional, case control and cohort studies.
Does retrospective chart review require IRB?
Retrospective chart reviews of existing medical records do not require prospective IRB approval if any of the following intentions apply: 1) The intent is a non-generalizable investigative review such as for quality assurance or a review of a physician's competency 2) The intent is for quality management issues such as ...
What is a chart review?
Chart reviews are a common method of gathering information on a specific medical condition or set of patient characteristics; Chart reviews can also include school records and employment records (usually for social science researchers); Chart reviews fall under IRB review because they involve viewing or obtaining private information about human subjects.
Can retrospective be exempt?
Retrospective can be exempt or expedited Generally does not obtain consent (waiver) Mayuse a full or partial HIPAA waiver Information is alreadycollected (“on the shelf”) prior to study submission
What is a retrospective chart review?
The retrospective chart review (RCR), also known as a medical record review, is a type of research design in which pre-recorded, patient-centered data are used to answer one or more research questions [1].
Why should an abstraction procedure manual be created?
In addition to the abstraction form, an abstraction procedures manual should be created and compiled for the coders to further ensure accuracy, reliability, and consistency for all reviewers and coders. This manual should have a clear and detailed explanation of the protocols and steps for data extraction.
What is RCR in healthcare?
RCR is a popular methodology widely applied in many healthcare-based disciplines such as epidemiology, quality assessment , professional education and residency training, inpatient care , and clinical research (cf. Gearing et al. [2]), and valuable information may be gathered from study results to direct subsequent prospective studies.
What should be included in training?
Training should include a careful review of the variables, the procedural manual, and the data abstraction form. Following this review, data abstractors should code several patient records for practice. These coded elements should be carefully verified by the researcher to ensure accuracy.
What is a pilot study?
Pilot tests, sometimes referred to as pilot studies, are smallscale versions of a research investigation which lack sample size to fully calculate statistics or answer the research question but are conducted to assess the study design, its feasibility, and evaluate the methodology and procedures of the investigation.
Is confidentiality and ethics in medical research regulated?
Confidentiality and ethics in medical research is a very serious and highly regulated field, both institutionally and through the Federal government. The ethics and oversight of all human research has been codified in Title 45, Part 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations, specifically 45CFR46.101(2009).
How are chart reviews dealt with?
In most cases, chart reviews are dealt with via a delegated ethic review process. On rare occasions, such as the collection of sensitive data, the study may have to be reviewed at the full board. 4.
What is retrospective chart review?
A Retrospective Chart Review evaluates patient data that already exists in the subject's medical record at the time the project is submitted for initial REB review. The patient data does not result from the research activity.
What is the common error that researchers make?
A common error that researchers make is to restate the above criteria in their waiver request. In order to ensure a waiver is granted it is necessary to demonstrate how the above apply to the research, particularly the third point above. Researchers should consider the following when outlining their rationale:
When requesting a waiver of consent, should the researcher address the following?
At minimum, the researcher should address the following when requesting a waiver of consent: whenever appropriate, the subjects will be provided with additional pertinent information after participation. the research does not involve a therapeutic intervention, or other clinical or diagnostic interventions.
What section of the application should be completed?
All relevant sections up to Section 4.1 of the application should be completed. In particular, Section 2.1 should contain a detailed description of the research including the plan for analysis.
Is a REB review required?
Is REB review required? The use of health information in the conduct of research-related activities requires the review and approval of the REB. Use of the health information for quality assurance/improvement activities may not require REB review.
Is chart review considered human participant research?
A chart review is generally considered to be human participant research and therefore REB review and approval is required PRIOR to commencing chart review activities. Depending on the custodian of the medical records you wish to access, additional administrative, operational or research agreements must be in place prior to accessing the data.
What is blind chart reviewer?
Blind chart reviewers to the etiologic relation being studied or the hypotheses being tested. If groups of patients are to be compared, the abstractor should be blinded to the patient’s group assignment
What are the advantages of a retrospective study?
ADVANTAGES OF RETROSPECTIVE STUDIES. quicker, cheaper and easier than prospective cohort studies. can address rare diseases and identify potential risk factors (e.g. case-control studies) not prone to loss of follow up. may be used as the initial study generating hypotheses to be studied further by larger, more expensive prospective studies.
How to train abstractors?
Ideally, train abstractors before the study starts, using a set of “practice” medical records. Ensure uniform training, especially in multi-center studies. Abstractors not sufficiently monitored. Monitor the performance of the chart abstractors.
Is chart abstraction systematic?
define the predictor and outcome variables to be collected a priori. Develop a coding manual and publish as an online appendix. Chart abstraction is not systematic (misclassification bias) Use standardized abstraction forms to guide data collection.
What is a prospective utilization review?
Prospective review includes the review of medical necessity for the performance of services or scheduled procedures before admission. Concurrent reviews include a review of medical necessity decisions made while the patient is currently in ...
Why was utilization review introduced?
Utilization review, as a process, was introduced in the 1960s to reduce overutilization of resources and identify waste.
How has healthcare changed in the last 100 years?
Healthcare has changed drastically in the last 100 years. Healthcare costs continue to rise, quality of care is questioned, and chronic diseases are evident now more than ever before. These challenges must be addressed by the industry, and effective solutions are a must.
Why did health insurance companies use the skillset?
The skillset gained popularity within the health insurance industry, mainly due to growing research about medical necessity, misuse, and overutilization of services. Therefore, health plans began to review claims for medical necessity, and the hospital length of stay (LOS). To contain costs, some health plans required the physician to certify ...
