Source Files

Starting in data year 2020, the emergency department data only contains the emergency department 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 emergency department visits identified as having observation services.

The HCUP Rhode Island emergency department 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. The OS segment includes all direct admits, OS in combination with ED services, and OS in combination with inpatient services.

Selection of Records for Inclusion in the SEDD

The summary segment, ED segment, and select data elements (prefixed with a value indicating ED) from the OS segment are included in the SEDD (STATE_ED=1). The Rhode Island SEDD includes OS-ED combination records as well as direct OS admits. Direct OS admits can be identified by HCUP_OS>0 and HCUP_ED=0.

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

The Rhode Island Department of Health and Human Services collects emergency department data from all hospital-owned EDs in the State.

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

Hospital-owned EDs do not always report data for a full calendar year. Some open or close during the year; others have technical problems that prevent them from reporting data for all months in a year.

Exclusion of Records During HCUP Data Processing

Beginning with 2016 data, records with a discharge disposition of "still a patient" are retained in the HCUP SEDD. Prior to 2016 data, these records were excluded. Beginning in 2010, records with a designation of "admitted as an inpatient" are retained in the SEDD, even though this rarely occurs. Prior to 2010, records with a designation of "admitted as an inpatient" were excluded from the files.