The Paediatric Dataset
Learn about the paediatric clinical dataset, benchmarking, quality improvement, outcome measures and access supporting documents.
- Benchmarking and quality improvement
- Data collection forms
- Outcome measures
- How to collect the paediatric dataset
- Paediatric data dictionary
- Resources
The paediatric data collection includes both an inpatient and an ambulatory data collection. Members who collect the paediatric data collection receive benchmarking reports twice a year (that cover both inpatient and ambulatory outcomes), which allow them to review their outcomes and patient populations compared to the benchmark group.
AROC also facilitates a yearly benchmarking workshop for all paediatric services across Australia and New Zealand. This allows services to come together for the day to compare, share ideas, problem solve and network amongst themselves. These workshops are highly valuable in assisting services to understand their AROC data as well as how they perform against their peers.
Inpatient
WeeFIM
The WeeFIM is a similar tool to the FIM that has been designed to be used with children. The WeeFIM is used to measure functional improvement during the inpatient rehabilitation episode. The WeeFIM instrument assesses a child’s activity limitations and their need for assistance (or burden of care) to perform basic life activities. To ensure quality and accurate WeeFIM data is collected, assessors of the WeeFIM must be trained and credentialed. For further information on WeeFIM Training & credentialing.
Length of stay (LOS)
The LOS of a rehabilitation episode is the number of days on which care has been provided. It is calculated as the rehabilitation end date (date discharged from rehabilitation service) minus the rehabilitation start date (date admitted to the rehabilitation service), minus the number of leave days during the rehabilitation episode of care. Many children in rehabilitation will also have had an acute LOS prior to their rehabilitation episode – this is not included in the rehabilitation LOS.
WeeFIM efficiency
WeeFIM efficiency is a way of combining the two outcome measures of WeeFIM change and LOS and is the amount of WeeFIM change achieved each day. At a service level, WeeFIM efficiency is calculated as the mean change in WeeFIM score divided by the mean LOS. The higher the WeeFIM efficiency value, the greater the level of functional improvement per day.
Discharge destination and support structure
Returning back home is often a major goal of inpatient rehabilitation. AROC reports on whether children return to the final or interim destination post rehabilitation, but also the support they receive in this destination. These can be reviewed together as an outcome of the child’s rehabilitation.
Ambulatory
Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM)
The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) is an individualised, client-centred outcome measure designed to capture a client’s self-perception of occupational performance over time. This is used at the beginning and end of an ambulatory rehabilitation episode to rate the child’s (or parent’s in some cases) self-reported performance and satisfaction in particular occupational areas from which the change in these scores is calculated. The AROC COPM tip sheet is available under resources section below.
AROC data collection process schematic
This document is a flow chart of the recommended AROC data collection process.
AROC Paediatric Data Dictionary
The AROC Paediatric Data Dictionary provides information on the definition and purpose of each data item as well as examples and guidelines. This is a vital document to ensure that services are collecting the data items correctly. If after reviewing the data dictionary you are still unsure about a particular data item, please contact aroc@uow.edu.au
Data dictionaries are available for clinicians, analysts and developers.
AROC Paediatric Impairment Coding Guidelines
The AROC impairment code should reflect the primary reason for the child's current episode of rehabilitation care. It is best practice for the impairment code to be allocated by the rehabilitation physician (or physician with an interest in rehabilitation) or an experienced clinician. A non-clinical member of staff should never be allocate impairment codes. AROC recommends using the impairment coding guidelines, which include examples of aetiologic diagnoses that could underpin each impairment. This list is not exhaustive.
Download the Paediatric Impairment Coding Guidelines (pdf)
COPM TIP Sheet
The AROC COPM tip sheet was developed by NSW Paediatric Rehabilitation Managers and provides guidance for consistent collection and entering of COPM data.