The CMS Abstraction & Reporting Tool (CART) is a powerful application for the collection and analysis of quality improvement data. Through data collection, retrospective analyses and real-time reporting, CART enables hospitals to comprehensively evaluate and manage quality improvement efforts.

Designed and developed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) with input from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs), CART is user-friendly in managing and analyzing quality improvement data.

Whether a hospital is seeking Medicare certification and/or JCAHO accreditation, or undertaking its own quality improvement initiatives, CART is ideal for the data collection and analyses that are essential to the success of all quality improvement efforts.

Research has proven that system changes are integral to any quality improvement initiative. Data obtained using CART will assist in identifying areas requiring system changes, as well as the progress of existing system enhancements.

The application is available at no charge to hospitals or other organizations seeking to improve the quality of care in the following clinical areas:

• Acute Myocardial Infarction
• Heart Failure
• Pneumonia
• Surgical Care Improvement

CART is available for use on a stand-alone, Windows-based computer, in a computer network or in environments without computing resources (paper tool). Support for CART will include abstraction definitions, user guides, training and data feedback.

Key Functions and Benefits:

• Assists in meeting CMS and/or JCAHO measurement specifications for performance monitoring and data collection with a single application.
• Compares progress in quality improvement internally, and with hospitals in your state or throughout the nation.
• Maintains security of patient data as well as Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance.
• Receives updates and enhancements to meet quickly changing and evolving quality improvement needs.
• Performs real-time and/or retrospective analyses.
• Identifies areas for new system changes or enhancements to existing systems based on data collected.

Contact:

Donna Piatt, RN, Quality Improvement Project Coordinator, 
405-840-2891 x212, E-mail Donna Piatt
Gayla Middlestead, Quality Specialist, 
405-840-2891 x269, E-mail Gayla Middlestead