To meet the current QOF requirements for DEP004, a review should be carried out within 10 days before and 56 days after diagnosis. Ardens has created the following searches to support practices in identifying depression patients eligible for a review, to ensure this is completed in time.
To locate the searches, access the Population Reporting module > Ardens Searches > 5.21 Contracts - QOF - Time sensitive > Depression DEP004 search folder.
The above searches are based on the patients included on the QOF Depression register eligible for a review.
For search 1, this will include patients diagnosed with depression, with a correctly recorded review code within the correct time frame.
For search 2, this will identify patients diagnosed with depression with an outstanding review. This is further broken down (2a, 2b, 2c and 2d) by those that have less than 46, 36, 26 or 16 days remaining to complete the review within the correct time frame. Search 2e identifies patients who have missed the time window for the interim review to be completed
For search 2.f, this will identify patients who have had an appointment in the last week. These patients may have discussed their depression with a clinician however an interim review code has not been recorded. You may wish to review these patients records to check whether the review has taken place but just not been recorded correctly. If appropriate, add the correct review code.
For search 2.g, this will display patients outstanding the interim review, however there is evidence that a review has taken place, but an incorrect QOF code has been used. You may wish to review the patients records and replace with the correct QOF review code.
Search 3 will identify potential coding issues. These patients have been recorded as having their interim review this fiscal year, however a new diagnosis code has been added after this review. You may wish to review the patients records to check whether the new diagnosis was in fact just a review of the current depression and update the patients records accordingly.
Search 4 is for information, displaying patients with an exception code in place this fiscal year, or excepted due to no response to two invitations.
If you require any further assistance on the process above, please contact Ardens support on: