Caseview: building the reference set.

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Hospital Management
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG) are standard for assessing hospital activity, but their interpretation is challenging.
• Existing methods for analyzing DRG data can be complex and difficult to interpret.
• A need exists for tools that simplify the understanding of hospital case mix data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and explain the principles of the 'case view' graphical representation method.
• To demonstrate how case view facilitates the interpretation of complex hospital activity data.
• To outline the application of case view for both theoretical analysis and practical visualization of hospital or departmental activity.

Main Methods:

• The case view method represents each Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) as a visual element ('pixel').
• A collection of DRGs is presented as a comprehensive image, termed 'case view'.
• The reference set for case view organization includes medical/surgical, nosological, and economic criteria.

Main Results:

• Case view offers a simplified, visual approach to understanding hospital case mix.
• The graphical representation aids in interpreting complex DRG data.
• This method is adaptable for various analytical and visualization purposes within healthcare settings.

Conclusions:

• Case view is a valuable tool for enhancing the interpretation of hospital activity data.
• Understanding the principles of case view empowers users to effectively visualize and analyze hospital performance.
• This graphical method addresses the complexity of DRG data, improving accessibility for healthcare professionals.