Care Variation Performance

The Care Variation Performance section is a powerful Clinical Analytics tool that gives users a look at changes in hospital charges or costs between a base period and a performance period. The results can be sorted by DRG, CDM, or CPT code.

Setting Up Templates for Analysis

The section requires some template setup and customization before you can start using it for data analysis.

Templates are available system-wide and set the parameters as you navigate the Care Variation data tables so you can get consistent results every time you use the analytic. If a template profile includes facilities you do not have access to, you will not be able to use the template.

When you first load the Care Variation section, there will not be any templates available.

Click the link to add a template.

Fill in the fields as you'd like for your first template. You will have the chance to create other templates later.

Field Name	Description
Name	Enter the name for your template. This is how the template will be identified throughout the section.
Base Period Profile	Choose the profile to use for the base period. The list includes only internal profiles, and you can only access a profile if you have access to all the included facilities.
Performance Period Profile	Choose the profile to use for the performance period. The list includes only internal profiles, and you can only access a profile if you have access to all the included facilities.
DRG Type	Choose between APR-DRG and MS-DRG for benchmark calculations. See Grouping Types for more information.
Base Period	Choose the base period for the analysis. Base period data is displayed on the report for comparison purposes.
Performance Period	Choose the performance period for the analysis. Performance period data is displayed on the report for comparison purposes.
Type	Select either CDM or CPT as the coding type. Your hospital or health system must have a CPT license in order to use CPT codes.

When you are done with all the fields, click Save to save your template. The application then loads the template selecting screen.

The Care Variation Performance section runs on cached data. When you add or edit a template, the system has to run the data so it can load quickly when you navigate through the section. While the calculations are running, the template's Actions column shows a processing message. When the message disappears, you may use the template.

NOTE: Changing the name of a template does not cause the section to rerun the calculations.