The use of administrative data as the first step in the continuous quality improvement process.

Billing or claims data, commonly referred to as administrative data, can be a valuable tool as the first step in a continuous quality improvement process. It is an inexpensive source of information which allows providers to identify opportunities for improvement in the process and the outcomes of health care delivery. The All Patient Refined/Diagnosis-Related Group case mix or severity-adjusted data represents one tool. The Practice Review System of Value Health Sciences is another. Comparative information is the first step, and the first step only in the quality improvement process. As such, to meet the needs of all continuous quality improvement customers, it is necessary to make this first step as reliable, yet inexpensive, as possible. Completing all the steps requires the use of a several measures over time.