G. Decision Support System (DSS)
1. What data are available in the DSS national cost extracts?
DSS cost data at the encounter level can be obtained from the DSS National Data Extracts that are located at the VA Austin Automation Center. The DSS National Cost Extracts consist of three files:
- the inpatient discharge extract
- the inpatient treating specialty extract
- the outpatient extract
The inpatient discharge extract contains all discharges that occurred in a fiscal year and the costs for each discharge. The treating specialty extract contains costs for each treating specialty bedsection stay. Costs for each treating specialty stay are calculated monthly. The outpatient extract contains costs for each unique clinic stop in a single visit, including pharmacy clinic stops. Detailed information about these three national extracts are provided in the Research Guide to Decision Support System National Cost Extracts: FY1998-FY2000 by Yu and Barnett, 2002. Link to the DSS main page.
Since FY 2001, a department-level cost extract has been developed and maintained. It is called Accounting Level Budget Cost Center (ALBCC) extract and it contains information on costs and hours at the DSS department level. HERC has evaluated this new extract and the Guidebook is available in the downloads section.
To ensure the protection of VA information, we have restricted access to certain files (denoted by the"lock" icon). Contact HERC to download these restricted files.
- Researchers' Guide to the Account Level Budget Cost Centers (ALBCC)
Date: 5/19/2006 | Size: 586Kb