About Us  |  FAQ  |  Search  |  Contact Us  |  Mailing List  |  Site Map     
The Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care The Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care
Home Data Tools Atlases & Reports Research Agenda & Findings Press Room
 


Data Tools

Hospital Care Intensity Report

Benchmarking

Data Tables

Distribution Graph

Medical Care Cost Equation

Profile

Geographic Query Finder

Download

Help



Benchmarking


The Benchmarking tool allows you to compare rates in selected areas or hospitals to each other or the national or state average. The question being explored in the Benchmarking tool is: what if rates in the comparison areas or hospitals were equal to rates in selected benchmarks? There are six steps to creating a table using the Benchmarking tool. (Click Help for detailed instructions.) In Step 1A, you will be asked what kind of data you would like. There are two types of data available.

Step 1A: Select a data type:

 

Population-based rates for geographic regions: Data about Medicare utilization and spending among all Medicare residents of local and regional health care markets.

Hospital service areas (HSAs): Local health care markets for hospital care
Hospital referral regions (HRRs): Regional markets for tertiary medical care
States

Population-based rates for chronically ill patients: Data about Medicare utilization, resource use and spending during the last two years of life among patients diagnosed with chronic illnesses.

Hospital referral regions (HRRs)
States

Provider-based rates for chronically ill patients: Data about Medicare utilization, resource use and spending during the last two years of life among patients hospitalized for chronic illnesses.

Hospitals

In Step 1B, you will be offered two types of benchmark tables; making the appropriate choice involves understanding the difference between benchmark and comparison areas. Comparison areas/hospitals are those that are being compared; Benchmarks are what they are being compared to.

Step 1B: Select the button that best describes the type of benchmark you’d like to make:

 

Compare multiple areas or hospitals to one benchmark: select one benchmark, such as the national average, a state average, or one HRR, HSA or hospital, then compare rates in other areas or hospitals against it.
Compare one area or hospital to multiple benchmarks: select one area or hospital to be the focus of the table, then select other areas, hospitals, or national average or state averages to benchmark against.


Step 1C: Select a year:

Population-based regional rates for all Medicare enrollees are available for each year from 1994 to 2005. Region- and provider-specific rates for chronically ill patients are available for one study period, 2001-05.