Administrative Data
States and private firms collect and store administrative healthcare data that is created to reimburse providers.
States and private firms collect and store administrative healthcare data that is created to reimburse providers.
Measuring Quality
Although clinical data are preferable, administrative data can be used to effectively measure quality.
Although clinical data are preferable, administrative data can be used to effectively measure quality.
Although these data are produced for the purpose of billing, many organizations use the data to motivate providers to be lower costs and improve quality. A huge body of research shows the limitations of these data, and many stakeholders dream of a day when clinical EHR data will drive quality improvement programs.
Until EHRs are intergrated, administrative data will continue to offer a rich and valuable source of information about how healthcare can be improved. There is already a movement to link available laboratory data with administrative datasets to provide more meaningful insights about patient disease severity.
I have many years of experience using administrative data to answer healthcare policy questions and to pubilically report the quality of hospitals.
