Statistics Terminology

Statistics The mathematics of the collection, organization, summarization, and analysis of numerical data Involves both numbers and the techniques and procedures used

Data Information, especially that which is organized for analysis or used as the basis for a decision Raw facts and figures that are meaningless by themselves

Information Data presented in a meaningful way Knowledge resulting from processing data

Population Refers to an entire group A set of persons or objects having a common observable characteristic

Sample A subset or small part of a population Used to generalize the entire population

Encounter A professional contact between a patient and a provider who delivers services or is professionally responsible for services delivered to a patient Physician; lab tech, pharmacist = 3 encounters

Occasion of Service Specific act of service provided a patient –Test –Examination –X-ray –Treatment

Visit All encounters and occasions of service during the same scheduled appearance

Beds Inpatient services are based on those who have been assigned a bed Temporary beds are not included in bed statistics –Disaster beds –Observation beds –Swing beds

Transfers Intrahospital transfer –Change in medical care/staff unit, or responsible physician of an inpatient during hospitalization Discharge transfer –Transfer of patient to another health care facility

Constant Assumes only one value Does not change

Variable Something that can change Often represented by x, y, n

Nominal Data Distinguishing symbols used to define a group or an individual –Phone number –Social security number –Zip code Numbers that don’t represent an amount or quantity

Ordinal Data Refers to order or rank Represents a specified position in a numbered series Grouping into low, middle, high scores

Vital Statistics Data that records significant events and dates in human life –Births –Deaths –Marriage –Divorce –Illness and disease

Abbreviations Routinely used by hospitals in data collection and analysis

Patient Care Abbreviations AMA – against medical advice DOA – dead on arrival ER – emergency room IP – inpatient NB – newborn OB – obstetrical OP - outpatient

Statistical abbreviations ADM – admission DIS or DC – discharge A&D – admitted and discharged (same day) A&C – adults and children TRF-in – transferred in TRF-out – transferred out

Clinical Units CCU – coronary care unit ENT – ear-nose-throat GYN – gynecology ICU- intensive care unit MED – medical care unit NEURO – neurology/neurosurgery OB – obstetrics ONCO - oncology

Other Abbreviations CTT – census taking time DD – discharge days DIPC – daily inpatient census IPSD – inpatient service day LOS – length of stay