Table 1.

A Sample CARE Query

CARE Program Statement	Interpretation of the Statement
Begin block whole	Open a programming block.
Define “age” as ex: (today-“birth”)/365.25	Compute patient's current age.
If “age” is ge 65 then save “one” as “oldpt” {integer}	Define a variable “oldpt” that is one if the patient is 65 years of age or older the day the program runs.
If any “oldpt” exists then continue else exit whole	If a patient is at least 65 years of age, then continue collecting the data listed below; otherwise, close the programming block and move on to the next patient's record.
If any “Drug A” [>0] exists then continue else exit whole	If a patient has been prescribed Drug A in a dose greater than zero, then continue collecting the data listed below; otherwise, close the programming block and move on to the next patient's record.
Define “drug_fst” as first “Drug A” [>0] exists	Find the date of first use of Drug A.
Define “drug_lst” as last “Drug A” [>0] exists	Find the date of last use of Drug A.
If any “er dx” [on_after “fst_date” & before “lst_date”] exists then save “one” {integer} as “evr_er” else save “zero” {integer} as “evr_er”	If the patient has received a diagnosis from the emergency department on the date of the prescription for Drug A but before the date of the last prescription, then set to one the variable “evr_er”; otherwise, set the variable to zero.
If any “Drug B” [after “fst_date” & >0] exists then save “one” as “Drug B” {integer} else save “zero” as “Drug B” {integer}	If the patient has received a prescription for any Drug B after the date of the first prescription for Drug A, then set to one the variable “Drug B”; otherwise, set the variable to zero.
End block whole	Close the programming block.