The National Prosthetic Patient Database: a national information resource for prosthetic prescriptions written in the VA.

Undil now, national comprehensive databases containing patient-specific information on the disabled population's use of prosthetic, orthotic, or sensory aids have not existed . I was disappointed to discover this fact when I became Director of the Veterans Health Administration's Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service . It was then that I resolved to develop a data system that would provide the necessary tools to oversee and monitor the large complex VA Prosthetic Service and to provide a c!inical review of prosthetic prescription information to clinicians. In 1984 I established a Prosthetic Service Development group headed by senior developer, Helen Corkwell, to accomplish this task . The result was the Prosthetic Software Package, which became opore1ional in 1997 . One of its major products is the National Prosthetic Patient Database (NPPD), a nadonal database with potential to enhance quality, reduce costs, and improve efficiency. My goal is to develop research partnerships to explore the NPPD and publish statistical results as well as clinical studies. The NPPD is a roll-up of all prosthetic data recorded at each VHA facility, providing patient information by unique social security number about patient eligibility, prosthetic treatment, date of provision, cost, and vendor. This system provides reports on a monthly or a quarterly basis at the facility, VISN (regional), and national VA Health Care System level . It provides ad hoc reporting ability to conduct analysis and review of prescription practices . It provides a patient item history on main NPPD groups. These groups are based on Health Care Financing Administration's Common Procedures Coding System (HCPCS) and include, but are not limited to: