Hospital Discharge Data

Data on inpatient discharges from licensed acute care hospitals in Rhode Island, including patient demographics, clinical items, and hospital charges. Can be used to measure health status and outcomes, health care utilization, and access to health care, and for other public health purposes. Public use data files are available.

Rhode Island begins January 1, 2005.  Patient-level information is collected for all inpatients discharged from the eleven general hospitals, two psychiatric hospitals, and one inpatient rehabilitation facilities.  Data including: demographic data, clinical items, and hospital charges are reported within 90 days after the end of each calendar quarter. The general hospitals submit their data through the shared data system of the Hospital Association of Rhode Island.  The Center for Health Data and Analysis compiles the inpatient discharge data submissions from all facilities and creates a public use file approximately three months after receipt of the original data. 

Data Details

• Public Use File Layouts for Fiscal Years 2005 - 2007 | 2004 | 1999 - 2003 | 1991 - 1998 | 1990 | 1989
• Data Element and Codes for all Fiscal Years

Reports

Utilization of Rhode Island Hospitals 2003 | 2002 |2001 | 2000

Access Standard Data Online

Statistics from Rhode Island hospital discharge data 2002 and later are available on HCUPnet, a free, online query system as part of the national Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) a family of health care databases and related software tools and products developed through a Federal-State-Industry partnership and sponsored by the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (more)

Request Customized Data

Public use data file consisting of patient-level data excluding all patient identifying information are available. Public use data files in a standardized format are available for Rhode Island and other select states through HCUP.  Such public use files are available for the eleven general hospitals only covering the period October 1, 1987, through September 30, 1998.  Public use files including data from the general hospitals, the psychiatric hospitals, and the rehabilitation facility are available from October 1, 1998, to the most recent reporting period.  Public use files are available by calendar years (January 1 through December 31), by the fiscal year used by most hospitals (October 1 through September 30), or for other periods by special request. 

Data Request Process

• Download the Data Use Agreement/Request Form (pdf | word )
• Select the years for which you request data.
• Sign the Form to affirm that you agree to the use conditions. Commercial use of information is restricted and transmission of patient-level data is prohibited.
• Include a money orders or cashier's checks made payable to "General Treasurer, State of Rhode Island". Copies of an existing data files on CD are $100 per year (or portion of year) requested. Changes in format or layout will increase the cost and delivery time.  We will provide a cost and time estimate if needed.
• Mail or drop off the form and payment.
• Review and Response. The Center for Health Data and Analysis will prepare and deliver the requested public use files on CD.  If there are any questions regarding your request, you will be contacted.