Background

The NED was launched in 2013 to collect live procedure data from over 400 endoscopy units in the UK into one central database. NED aims to improve endoscopy quality by serving as a critical resource for monitoring and benchmarking endoscopy performance. The result is a highly detailed, endoscopy KPI interface which is accessible to endoscopists and unit leads online: https://nedpilot.thejag.org.uk/KPIS.aspx

The key performance indicators (KPI's) interface allows endoscopists to access and download their own individual KPI across colon, OGD, and flexi sigmoidoscopy procedures. Clinical leads and nominated leads can access trust/organisation level NED data with the ability to drill down to an individual endoscopists KPI’s. NED data is also available to download in the JAG audit template for JAG assessments and audits.

How does uploading to NED work?

NED works by automatically extracting clinical data directly from a unit’s local endoscopy reporting system (ERS). This means that no manual data entry is required to send data to NED. As uploads are automated, NED removes the potential risk of human error and bias in KPI reporting. Furthermore, data sent from an ERS to NED is mapped to a GMC or NMC as opposed to a set site or organisation. This removes the additional administrative work of manually adding organisations and sites for endoscopists who carry out locum work. NED is therefore a powerful resource for monitoring cross-site activity efficiently and effectively.

Project purpose and aim

NED aims to address unwanted variation in endoscopy performance by providing access to highly detailed and robust performance analytics and reports. Accurate and unbiased recording of training data is necessary to measuring trainee competence with confidence. Local ad-hoc audits are non-standardised and prone to error, which means that there’s currently no sufficient way to easily identify underperformance. NED tends to this gap by producing accurate, non-bias endoscopy KPI data in real time.

The database can be used to facilitate quality assurance (QA), research and training in endoscopy. An example of a research project using NED data is the NED-APRIQOT (Automated Performance Reports to Improve Quality Outcomes Trial) study which is a three year project starting in March 2018. NED APRIQOT is funded by Health Foundation and conducted by Newcastle University and the JAG. It will study the use of automated performance reports to improve quality outcomes in colonoscopy.