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Exploring the Addition of Physician Identifiers to the California Hospital Discharge Data Set
Insights
California could benefit from collecting physician-identified data in hospital discharge records, similar to 48 other states. Stakeholder concerns about data access, analysis, and consumer interpretation require careful consideration for implementation.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Health Policy Analysis
- Data Management in Healthcare
Background:
- California currently does not collect physician identifiers in its hospital discharge data set.
- There is ongoing consideration regarding the state's collection and release of physician-identified data.
- Understanding potential benefits and challenges is crucial for policy development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore issues surrounding the inclusion of physician identifiers in California's hospital discharge data.
- To assess the potential uses of physician-identified data by the state or for public release.
- To inform California's decision-making process on this data policy.
Main Methods:
- Conducted interviews with diverse California stakeholders.
- Reviewed legal and regulatory authority of the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development.
- Interviewed representatives from other states regarding their experiences with physician-identified data.
Main Results:
- Physician-identified data offers potential utility for various stakeholders.
- 48 other states collect physician identifiers in hospital discharge reporting without significant hospital burden.
- States releasing such data have not reported issues, though California stakeholders raised concerns.
Conclusions:
- Collection of physician identifiers in California's hospital discharge data is feasible and potentially beneficial.
- Addressing stakeholder concerns regarding data access, analysis, and interpretation is essential.
- Careful consideration of these concerns is necessary for advancing the collection and use of physician-identified data.
Abstract:
To advance consideration of whether California should collect and release physician-identified data, RAND conducted a study to explore issues associated with requiring the inclusion of physician identifiers in the California hospital discharge data set and the potential use of physician-identified data by the state and/or release to others. RAND researchers conducted interviews with a broad set of California stakeholders, reviewed the legal and regulatory authority of the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development to collect and release physician identifiers, and interviewed representatives from other states to understand any issues encountered by the states in their collection and use of physician-identified data. The authors found that physician-identified data could be useful to a variety of stakeholders. Of the 48 states that have hospital discharge reporting programs, all but California collect physician identifiers and do so without substantial burden to hospitals. States vary in their release policies, but those who do release the data have not reported problems. California stakeholders expressed concerns related to who would have access to the data, how the data would be analyzed, and how consumers would interpret the information, which should be carefully considered in efforts to advance the collection of physician identifiers in the California hospital discharge data.
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