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How to use the NSW Public Hospitals Comparison Data Book
The NSW Public Hospitals Comparison Data Book will assist managers and planners to examine the performance of a hospital in comparison with other hospitals in the State. It is organised in a systematic way.
The first step is to determine the peer group into which the hospital has been classified. An alphabetical list of hospitals is contained in the Hospital Index. From this Index the peer group of each hospital may be determined. A list of Hospitals by Peer Group and Area Health Service can be used to quickly find out which hospitals are in each peer group.
Having located a hospital, it is important that its data are examined in comparison to other hospitals within its own peer group and not across other hospital peer groups. For instance it would not be appropriate to compare Westmead Hospital with Lithgow District Hospital as they are in different peer groups. For ease of presentation the various groups of hospitals are divided into ‘Parts’ where the ‘group’ tables extend over more than one page. Hospitals are listed alphabetically within each group. The performance of peer hospitals can be compared against various indicators associated with key activity, staffing and financial measures. These data fall into two main groups:
- relative indicators of performance which generally involve a ratio such as same day separations as a percentage of total separations, cost per casemix weighted inpatient and the inpatient fraction; and
- absolute indicators of the level of activity, staffing and finance such as admissions, total equivalent full time (EFT) staff and total expenses.
Relative indicators will generally facilitate comparison of the performance of hospitals. To date, relative indicators of performance have been more closely associated with the measurement of efficiency. A limited number of direct measures of quality or effectiveness of service delivery have also been included. There are significant changes in the 1997/98 Hospital Comparison Data book aimed at incorporating greater emphasis on the identification of indicators for measuring and managing the quality of health care in accordance with The Framework for Managing the Quality of Health Services in NSW.
The 1997/98 edition has been divided into two volumes to assist users to better utilise and access the data book. Volume one is divided into two Chapters. Chapter 1 contains data on acute hospitals; and Chapter 2 contains information on non acute hospitals. Volume two will contain expanded information on Casemix measures and is expected to be released in June 1999.
A Word of Caution
The NSW Public Hospitals Comparison Data Book was first published for the year 1991/92. Users, however, should exercise extreme caution if they intend to compare the performance of hospitals with data from previous editions. Great care is needed due to changes in definitions and the methodology used in compiling measures, variations in data quality, changes in the services provided by hospitals and the introduction of new and improved data sources.
Graphs
Access to tables and graphs in PDF format and to data which can be used in spreadsheet and database programs.
Terms and Symbols Used
For a better understanding of terms used please see Glossary of Terms and Footnotes.The following symbols are used:
n.a. not available
n.p. not available for publication but included in totals where applicable
.. not applicable
- nil or rounded to zero
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