Postal code collection

The entry TmpV2 entry for Postal Code collection will be automatically created for any new patient created as of 2011-12-08. It needs to be filled in for any patient.

• Start putting in the postal code for new admissions on and after January 1, 2012.

• Project: PostalCode
• Item: Postal Code
• "Q"(note, that's the last field on the form, not the first!): enter the patient's postal code X1X1X1, ie no space
  • Use Upper Case letters in the postal code with no space between please.
  • When the postal code is not available, tick off the "B" and leave the space for postal code blank

Special Cases

Homeless with proxy address

If you have a homeless person admitted who lists their address as Siloam Mission or the Salvation Army/Booth's Place, use their postal code as provided.

Institutionalized patients

For patients who live in care homes, use the institution's postal code.

Inmates

For inmates such as from Stoney Mountain or Headingley use the institution's postal code.

PC not available

If a postal code is unavailable for a patient, tick off the "B" and leave the space for postal code blank. e.g.:

• John/Jane Doe
• out-of-country patient
• chart doesn't have postal code

We will see how many postal codes we miss by doing it that way and then decide if we need to go further in our efforts to get complete postal code info on all patients. For example, we may end up providing a list of postal codes for nursing homes to fill in when it's known the patient is a nursing home resident.

We will review about the end of January how data is looking. Booked for Feb 3Ttenbergen 15:33, 6 January 2012 (CST)

Uses for the data

With the overstay project not needing this data now our main reason for collecting it is gone. This is still interesting data, but for the most part we want to collect because we actually use data, not just because it's interesting. So, I propose we take to the steering committee whether we should continue to collect this. On this topic, email from Julie: "In the past and until now, Randy Martens is interested on the critical care population by geographic area and that is possible to do by having the patient's postal code. As a matter of fact, he thought we have that data before so he can do his postal code analysis. I am sure Randy would like the postal code data to be collected for the critical care database." Template:Discussion

• Trish, can you confirm if the continued collection of this data is going on the next steering agenda? Ttenbergen 16:13, 18 January 2012 (CST)
  • Yes it should be discussed at next Steering meeting and team can decide if Randy's need and Dr. Garland suggestion that continuing code collection would enhance the database allowing social economic stratification of population also. That it would actually used by many not few. --TOstryzniuk 11:06, 19 January 2012 (CST)
    • steering says to continue collecting for now. Ttenbergen 14:56, 2012 February 9 (CST)

Requirements to enter the data

• I find that if you dont have postal codes for some of your pts before you send even if they are not complete you cant send your completed files without entering a postal code or a checkmark on those unsent pts. Would it be possible to have that safety feature on just the completed files?
  • The program will already accept not having the line at all. However, if the line is present it needs to have either a postal code or a "not available" check. To make collection easier I set up the program to enter the line automatically so collectors can save a step. If you would like me to take out that feature, which would eliminate errors for incomplete patients, then let me know. Ttenbergen 14:56, 2012 February 9 (CST)
  • It would be easier to send if the postal code did not come up as an error if not done on unfinished profiles so I would like it if you took out the automatic postal code line. Lois