CROWNWeb: Electronic Access to Patient-Centric Data

Abstract

In June 2012, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented the national launch of its CROWNWeb data collection system as a means to transform the way end-stage renal disease (ESRD) facilities report care provided to their patients. Fulfilling requirements outlined in Section 494.180(h) of CMS’ updated Conditions for Coverage for ESRD Facilities (CfC) published in 2008, CROWNWeb is currently used by more than 6,000 Medicare-certified dialysis facilities and approximately 30 kidney transplantation centers throughout the United States and U.S. territories. The system serves as a central database in which clinical and administrative information can be entered and obtained by qualified users.

Since its national release, CROWNWeb has served as a universal resource that nephrology social workers, Patient Services Directors (PSDs), other ESRD Network personnel, and CMS employees use to access near-real-time patient treatment data. These data are aiding the renal community with its ongoing commitment to work toward improving the quality of life for people with chronic kidney disease. CROWNWeb stores data for hundreds of thousands of patients, archives digital versions of completed CMS forms, compiles various reports and patient treatment data, and provides patient management capabilities that allow facilities to determine if their patients are continuing to receive treatments in the case of a disaster.

This article focuses on the CROWNWeb system’s impact on the duties of social workers and the interdisciplinary teams (IDTs) that are outlined in CMS’ updated CfC. This article provides real-world examples from both nephrology social workers and ESRD Networks of how CROWNWeb has assisted them with managing the patient data used to capture care efforts. In addition, this article delves into how the system has aided with reducing barriers that social workers and PSDs may face in obtaining key data regarding patients.