Lexington Medical Center is a 607-bed teaching hospital in West Columbia, South Carolina. It anchors a health care network that includes six community medical centers and employs a staff of more than 8,500 health care professionals. The hospital has been ranked best hospital in the Columbia Metro area three years in a row by U.S. News & World Report and was named one of the “Best Places to Work in South Carolina” by SC Biz News, in partnership with the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and Best Companies Group.
Healthcare Professionals
Physician's Offices
Community Medical & Urgent Care Centers
- Occupational health center
- The largest extended care facility in the Carolinas
- A specialized care center for Alzheimer’s
U.S. News & World Report ranked Lexington Medical Center as high performing in treating the following 10 adult procedures and conditions:
1. Back surgery (spinal fusion)
2. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
3. Colon cancer surgery
4. Heart attack 5. Heart failure
6. Hip replacement
7. Knee replacement
8. Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma
9. Pneumonia
10. Prostate cancer surgery
Introduction
Managing and abstracting data for the ACC NCDR CathPCI and ACC NCDR Chest Pain MI cardiac registries presents a significant challenge, particularly when skilled resources are limited. High-quality data is essential for accurate benchmarking, performance improvement, and meeting regulatory requirements. Lexington Medical Center’s Quality Department has historically maintained exceptional data integrity through its internal team, ensuring the highest standards in registry management. However, the need for additional resources became increasingly clear.
Challenge:
Maintaining High-Quality Data with Limited Resources
Lexington Medical Center’s internal team was initially hesitant to partner with an external company for registry abstraction, fearing that outsourcing might compromise the high-quality standards they had diligently upheld. The key challenge lay in identifying a trusted partner capable of seamlessly integrating with the center’s established processes while preserving its rigorous commitment to quality.
Solution:
A Trusted Partnership with Registry Partners
Lexington Medical Center’s Manager of Quality Management – Acute Care, Angela Melvin, had previously collaborated closely with Registry Partners on a Sepsis registry project, achieving outstanding results. This successful partnership built a foundation of trust and confidence in Registry Partners’ expertise and ability to deliver exceptional outcomes. Drawing on this proven collaboration, Angela reached out once again to Registry Partners for assistance with the hospital’s cardiac registries. This engagement solidified the partnership further, providing crucial support to Lexington Medical Center’s internal team in effectively abstracting and managing registry data.
Key Objectives of this collaboration include:
- Ensuring a seamless transition of responsibilities without disrupting internal operations.
- Maintaining the highest standard of data quality established by Lexington Medical Center’s team.
- Implementing robust quality assurance measures, including monthly reviews of 5% of all cardiac registry cases.
Process
STAFFING / GREAT PLACE TO WORK
With over 20 years of experience in data abstraction and registry management, Registry Partners has built a foundation of superior client support by leveraging best practices and deep expertise. For the third consecutive year, Registry Partners has been certified as a Great Place to Work—a recognition of our commitment to cultivating a supportive and engaging work environment. This dedication not only boosts employee satisfaction and retention but also drives exceptional performance across the board.
CLIENT CENTERED TEAM
Having a dedicated point of contact ensures streamlined communication and prevents clients from being overwhelmed by multiple sources of information. Each account is assigned a Project Manager who maintains regular communication, facilitating efficient information flow. This structured approach ensures timely updates and enables the quick resolution of any client concerns related to project work, productivity, or additional support needs.
ROADMAP TEMPLATE
The Registry Partners Project Manager oversees the creation of a project roadmap unique to each client facility. This tool documents successful navigation of the facility’s version of their EHR system(s) and where to locate all required documentation. This document is housed on the secured shared drive and belongs to the client should they wish to access it for internal use or training.
QUALITY REVIEWS (IRR)
Our Inter-Rater Reliability (IRR) Tool has been developed to document Quality Control and provide feedback in a single document. Every field within a case is abstracted into the IRR tool documenting the initial entry, the Quality reviewed entry and notes on any discrepancies found, including references to the specifications manual by the Quality Manager.
PRODUCTIVITY TRACKING
All project time is billed to the minute and coded to Service Codes based on the task being performed. This allows transparency on invoices so all clients can see what was billed by task. This method of billing also allows us to monitor abstraction productivity within the team. We have identified case timer benchmarks that are used to hold our team accountable ensuring defined project goals are met.
ADDITIONAL VALUE
Registry Partners’ consultants will offer suggestions for best practices and process improvements based on experience and subject matter expertise. All project documentation and tools developed for the client belong to the hospital and can be used for future training opportunities.
Results: Sustaining Excellence in Cardiac Registry Management
Through our partnership, Lexington Medical Center successfully supplemented its internal resources while preserving its commitment to data accuracy and integrity
“At our core, we are committed to the success of our clients and their business units. We believe that our clients’ achievements are our achievements, and we strive to build strong, collaborative relationships. By understanding their unique needs and challenges, we provide tailored solutions and support that empower them to reach their goals. Our dedication is reflected in our proactive approach, delivery innovation, and unwavering support, ensuring that our clients not only succeed but thrive in their respective registries.”
Donna Reynolds – Founder and Chief Revenue Officer
Registry Partners continues to work closely with Lexington Medical Center’s team to implement best practices, ensure consistency, and deliver reliable data abstraction services. By maintaining strict quality oversight and leveraging external expertise, Lexington Medical Center continues to achieve outstanding registry management results, reinforcing the value of strategic collaboration in healthcare data abstraction.
“We haven’t missed a beat. We feel very supported by the Registry Partners team. They are not just filling in data, they are part of our team, and we value their opinions.”
Angela Melvin BSN, RN – Manager, Quality Management- Acute Care
Conclusion:
Lexington Medical Center’s experience showcases how outsourcing registry abstraction, with the right partner, can be a seamless and efficient solution for organizations facing resource constraints. Collaborating with Registry Partners enables Lexington Medical Center to maintain the highest quality of cardiac registry data, empowering the organization to confidently achieve its performance and regulatory goals.