DSP diagnosis criteria: DSP symptoms and signs

Measure Purpose: Confirmation of the accurate diagnosis of DSP

The numerator: Patients who had their neuropathic symptoms and signs reviewed and documented at the initial evaluation for distal symmetric polyneuropathy

is divided by

The denominator: All patients age 18 years and older with a diagnosis of distal symmetric polyneuropathy

Exceptions are removed from the denominator for:

• Patient has profound mental retardation
• Patient has a language disturbance
• Patient is cognitively impaired

Key Phrases

Key phrases you should use to meet this measure include:

• Neuropathic symptoms and signs reviewed

Measure Calculation Example

Dr. Tremblay saw 100 patients over the age of 18 with distal symmetric polyneuropathy from January 1 to December 31 of the measurement year. This is the denominator. Six of those patients were cognitively impaired and one had a language disturbance. These patients are removed from the denominator.

Of the remaining 93 patients, 39 had their neuropathic symptoms and signs reviewed at the initial evaluation for distal symmetric polyneuropathy. This is the numerator.

Quality of care = 39/(100-7). Dr. Tremblay has a score of 41% for this measure.