The data collection process established for the German DRG system over the last six years with focus on data quality

Abstract

A key aspect of developing a successful DRG system is the quality of the underlying data. In Germany, about 18 million patient data and four million detailed patient cost data are collected annually to obtain an accurate and up-to-date basis. Though routines are established in the collection process, the process has been developed and refined over the years (2002 to 2007). This leads to a continuous upgrading of data validation. An overview of the process of data collection is given with focus on the following questions: - What happens to data in order to analyse it successfully and apply the results in the further development of the G-DRG system? - How can improvement of data quality be achieved? How can it be measured? - How are approximately 18 million cases collected every year (data flow)? - Which results are published to guarantee transparency? There is an obligation for nearly all German hospitals (about 1,800) to transfer patient data according to a certain law of hospital remuneration. In addition, detailed patient cost data and augmentative patient data are provided by nearly 270 hospitals that participate voluntarily in a partial census. The collection of hospital data in Germany runs annually through a standardised technical process including several quality checks. The data collection process from hospital into the relational databases of the German DRG Institute (InEK) is described, and details about the communication process and data security are given.