Source Files

Starting in data year 2021, the inpatient data only contains the inpatient segment and a summary segment. However, this did not change the file composition. The overall number of discharge records is similar to previous years as well as the inpatient stays identified as having observation and emergency department services.

The HCUP Rhode Island inpatient data were provided in a combined file from the Rhode Island Department of Health. Each record contains an inpatient segment, an observation stay (OS) segment, a summary segment, and an emergency department (ED) segment.

For inpatient data, the summary segment, inpatient segment, and select data elements (prefixed with a value indicating inpatient by the Rhode Island Department of Health) from the OS and ED segments are used.

Types of Facilities Included in the Files Provided to HCUP by the Partner

The Rhode Island Department of Health and Human Services collects inpatient data from their acute care general hospitals, psychiatric, and rehabilitation facilities in Rhode Island.

Prior to 2001, information on psychiatric and rehabilitation facilities were not provided to HCUP.

A comparison of the number of hospitals included in the SID and the number of hospitals reported in the AHA Annual Survey is available starting in data year 2010.

Hospitals do not always report data for a full calendar year. Some hospitals open or close during the year; other hospitals have technical problems that prevent them from reporting data for all months in a year.

Inclusion of Stays in Special Units

The documentation supplied by Rhode Island does not indicate whether information on stays in special units (e.g., psychiatric, rehabilitation, long-term care) within the hospital is included in the data.

Exclusion of Records During HCUP Data Processing

Records with a discharge disposition of "still a patient" and "admitted as an inpatient" were excluded from the HCUP Rhode Island inpatient data.