Question

Describe at least 3 types of aggregate healthcare reports that you believe would be commonly used by healthcare executives / administrators in a hospital or other healthcare setting, including public health agencies (only need to choose 1 healthcare setting).

Answer 1

Aggregated data are extracted from individual health records and collaborated to form a non-identified information about groups of patients that can be compared and analyzed even by an external source, without breach of personally identifiable information. It is a consolidation of data relating to different or group of patients, and therefore cannot be traced back to a specific patient. Usually, they are just counts, such as incidences of Malaria, TB, or other diseases.

The aggregated statistics are used for the creation of routine reports and healthcare indicators and even for the strategic planning within the health system. It is crucial for planning and guidance of the performance of health systems even though it cannot provide a detailed information.

The main examples of aggregate data used by a healthcare administrator in a hospital are: Cost reports, claims denial analysis, staffing analysis, referral analysis, statistical reports, trend analysis, ad hoc reports.

Staffing analysis:

Staffing analysis is essential to ensure an adequate and appropriate distribution of health services. The inappropriate staffing can impose increased financial pressures on the public sector. It can determine the actual staffing requirements and plan for the future accordingly.

Claims denial analysis:

Denial of claims is one of the disadvantages of the healthcare insurance and this may lead to the unexpected burden on the patient. The claim denial analysis report can be used to plan in accordance with the denial chances. The patient can be informed well in advance about the possibilities of denial and measures can be planned.

Trend analysis:

The cost of fraud, waste, and abuse are the root of the rocketing healthcare costs in the United States. The trend analysis can be a game changer for healthcare fraud. The future trends can be identified planned accordingly based on the trends in healthcare.