HCUP has developed a series of free, interactive courses to provide HCUP data users with information about HCUP data and tools, and training on technical methods for conducting research with HCUP data. The online courses are modular, so you can either move through an entire course, or access sections that interest you the most. There are two versions of each course - interactive or text.

The interactive, modular HCUP Overview Course provides a wealth of information about HCUP data, software tools, and products. The course describes where HCUP data come from, the features and uses of each database, software tools, technical support and much more.

HCUP Overview Course Length 90 minutes

Overview Course Transcript (text version in HTML) (best version for printing)

This tutorial explains the sampling strategy of three nationwide databases-the NIS, NEDS, and KID. Users will learn how to account for sample design in their work with HCUP nationwide databases.

HCUP Sample Design Tutorial Length 30 minutes

Sample Design Tutorial Transcript (text version in HTML) (best version for printing)

This tutorial provides instructions on how to unzip (decompress) HCUP data, save it on the computer, and load the data into a standard statistical software package. Users will also learn how to verify that the data have loaded correctly. Additionally, users will learn how to link respective HCUP database files together. Included examples are based on the 2019 HCUP National Inpatient Sample (NIS), but other data years are available for use.

HCUP Load and Check Tutorial Length 30 minutes

Load and Check Tutorial Transcript (text version in HTML) (best version for printing)

This tutorial demonstrates how the HCUP nationwide databases the - NIS, KID, NASS, NEDS, and NRD - can be used to produce national and regional estimates. Users will learn how to select and apply the appropriate discharge or hospital weights in order to generate national estimates from unweighted counts.

Producing National HCUP Estimates Tutorial Length 45 minutes

Producing National HCUP Estimates Tutorial Transcript (text version in HTML) (best version for printing)

This tutorial shows how to accurately determine the precision of the estimates produced from the HCUP nationwide databases. Users will learn two methods for calculating standard errors for estimates produced from the HCUP nationwide databases.

HCUP Calculating Standard Errors Tutorial Length 30 minutes

Calculating Standard Errors Tutorial Transcript (text version in HTML) (best version for printing)

This tutorial presents solutions that may be necessary when conducting analyses that span multiple years. Errors in study results may occur when two or more years of data are combined. This course will describe problems that may arise when using multiple years of HCUP data and provide you with easy solutions for addressing these issues.

HCUP Multi-year Analysis Tutorial Length 45 minutes

HCUP Multi-Year Analysis Tutorial Transcript (text version in HTML)

This tutorial introduces users to the Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) and is presented in two parts. Part one, Database Design, describes the sampling design, key data elements, and limitations of the NRD. Part two, Using the NRD, steps through an example of producing national readmissions rates for a specific condition using SAS as our statistical package.

NRD Tutorial

This tutorial introduces users to the HCUP software tools, which can be applied to HCUP and other administrative databases to create new data elements from existing data, thereby enhancing a researcher's ability to conduct analyses. There are four modules within this course grouping the HCUP tools by the following coding systems: ICD-10-CM diagnoses, ICD-10-PCS procedures, CPT and HCPCS Level II codes, and ICD-9-CM diagnoses and procedures. Users will learn about the purpose of each tool and receive technical guidance for applying the tools to their data.

HCUP Software Tools Tutorial

HCUP Software Tools Tutorial Transcript (text version in HTML)

If you have comments about any of the HCUP tutorials or suggestions for how we can improve them, please let us know by sending an e-mail to hcup@ahrq.gov. If you are having difficulty using the HCUP tutorials, please contact hcup@ahrq.gov for assistance or call HCUP User Support at 1-866-290-HCUP.