Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What other hospitals would my hospital be compared to?

The Compare reports benchmark each hospital against a group of similar facilities based on size. Additional comparisons, such as academic medical centers, can be run if requested.

I already record avoidable delays in a commercial case management system. Will staff have to leave this system to use Compare?

The best tracking is obtained when it is most convenient in the work flow. If you already record these metrics in a commercial system, we generally suggest you continue to use that system. Compare is generally able to be integrated into that system, and for most of the major case management systems has a partnership with the vendor that makes implementation turn-key.

My hospital does not have a commercial case management system. Can we still use Compare?

Yes. Compare can be integrated into many different forms of tracking.

ACMA also developed Compare Online for hospitals without commercial case management systems. This is an online tracking interface that allows turn-key implementation and streamlined tracking.

Are the Compare services software?

It is NOT. There is no software to download or install. Instead, Compare is a combination of tools, benchmarking services, and education. The standardized tools are used for tracking at the hospital level (typically within existing software applications), and enable your hospital's data to be added to the aggregate Compare database. ACMA then uses this database to produce quarterly reports for subscribers. The database also allows ACMA to identify the most effective practices used at subscribing hospitals, and share these through best-practice educational events.

Is my hospital's data kept confidential?

All reports are unique to a facility, and show that facility's performance compared to their comparative group. However, no other facility's data is identifiable. Hospitals that make up the group are listed at the end of each report, but their data is in no way identifiable in any report but their own. In addition, all data submissions are kept in ACMA's secure database, and/or on ACMA's server. These are accessible to only authorized ACMA employees.

What does implementation require from a hospital's IT department?

In most cases, IT is required to do nothing. ACMA created partnerships with major case management software providers - ACS Midas, Allscripts, and Morrisey - who turn-key implementation for their customers. Similarly, implementation is turn-key for users of Compare Online. Even if you are not using one of these systems, implementation is not difficult and occurs primarily in the application where staff performs tracking.

How can I track delays that are not included in the Compare AD dictionary?

The Compare AD dictionary includes those delay reasons for which tracking can produce actionable performance improvement information. However, some organizations elect to track additional causes of delays that are not included in the Compare AD dictionary - usually because they are an issue specific to that organization. Compare AD does not preclude the ability to track these additional delays. The dictionary is divided into categories of delays; to track additional delays you can simply group these "organization-specific" delay reasons/codes into an additional category. This category will not be benchmarked.

Does it matter what medical criteria my organization uses?

No. Compare AD is not built on a specific set of medical criteria but instead on a nationally tested set of categories, definitions and causes, and can therefore be used in conjunction with any medical criteria. Delays in patient care may exist whether or not they meet medical criteria for inpatient care, and whether or not the delay actually causes a denial of reimbursement. Delays that do not result in a denial still negatively impact throughput and patient care. Compare AD data helps identify opportunities for improvement, regardless of criteria set.

How and where is data submitted?

Data is typically exported from your hospital's application into an Excel of .csv file, and emailed to a designated email address. If greater security is desired, you can utilize a secure upload site (FTP) or your hospital's own secure mail system.

How do subscribers receive their reports?

Quarterly benchmarking reports are emailed to subscribers quarterly.

What education is provided for new Compare AD subscribers?

New subscriber education is provided at implementation to both leaders and staff through conference call(s) and/or webinar(s). Implementation education trains subscribers to use the system(s), and refocuses staff on delay tracking and prevention.

Are subscribers required to be ACMA members?

No. Compare benchmarking was developed by ACMA, but membership is not required to be a subscriber. However, ACMA membership has many benefits to offer case management professionals. Learn more at the ACMA website (www.acmaweb.org).