Analysis of acuity trends using Resource Intensity Weights via the CIHI Portal.

One key to revolutionizing health care with informatics is the ability of decision-makers to access and analyze relevant data in a timely and efficient manner. Inspired by the demand for timely access to hospitalization data in Canada, CIHI Portal is an innovative web-based analytical tool which combines leading technology and data for decision support analysis. Hospitals, regional health authorities and ministries of health can use CIHI Portal to access comparable, pan-Canadian healthcare data for health data analysis, collaboration and dissemination. The goal of CIHI Portal is to support health care decision-makers in their local and regional health care planning and to answer service delivery questions.The Capital Health region in Alberta used Resource Intensity Weights (RIW) to investigate claims that patients within their region were getting sicker over the past few years and that additional resources would be required in the future. Using the CIHI Portal, Capital Health conducted an analysis on historical trends in the average RIWs Average Resource Intensity Weight is calculated as the total Resource Intensity Weight (RIW) divided by the total number of inpatient separations. and found that although typical patients were not using a greater amount of resources, there was definitely an increase in the amount of resources consumed by atypical patients. Information contained in the analysis influenced budgeting, fund reallocation and health care planning. CIHI Portal has proven to be a reliable tool for data access, information sharing and knowledge exchange. It has enhanced decision support services within the Capital Health region.