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Central Distributor SID: Description of Data Elements
This section describes how HCUP data elements are coded, restrictions on their use, their uniform values, and State-specific coding practices.
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DISPUniform - Disposition of patient, uniform coding
 
Documentation Sections:
General Notes
Uniform Values
State Specific Notes
General Notes
 

DISPUniform indicates the disposition of the patient at discharge (routine, transfer to another hospital, died, etc.). To ensure uniformity of coding across data sources, DISPUniform combines detailed categories in the more general groups. For example,

  • Transfers to facilities other than short-term hospitals (skilled nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities, and other type of facilities) are coded as DISPUniform = 5.
  • Transfers to Home Health Care (including IV providers and Hospice home care) are coded as DISPUniform = 6.

DISPUB04 and DISPUB92 has more detailed categories for transfers and Home Health Care and distinguishes patients that died in the hospital from those that died outside of the hospital.

The following table lists how the values of DISPUB04 map to the values of DISPUniform:

Coding of DISPUB04 into DISPUniform
DISPUB04 DISPUniform
Value Description Value Description
1 Discharged to Home or Self Care (Routine Discharge) 1 Routine
21 Court/Law Enforcement
2 Discharged/transferred to a Short-Term Hospital for Inpatient Care 2 Transfer to Short-term Hospital
5 Effective 10/1/07: Discharged/transferred to a Designated Cancer Center or Children's Hospital
9 Admitted as an inpatient to this hospital - valid only on outpatient data
43 Discharged/transferred to a Federal Health Care Facility
66 Discharged/transferred to a Critical Access Hospital (CAH)
3 Discharged/transferred to a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) 5 Transfer Other: Includes Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF), Intermediate Care Facility (ICF), Another Type of Facility
4 Discharged/transferred to an Intermediate Care Facility (ICF)
5 Effective prior to 10/1/07: Discharged/transferred to another type of institution not defined elsewhere
51 Hospice - Medical Facility
61 Discharged/transferred to a Hospital-Based Medicare approved Swing Bed
62 Discharged/transferred to an Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) including Rehabilitation Distinct part unit of a hospital
63 Discharged/transferred to a Medicare certified Long Term Care Hospital (LTCH)
64 Discharged/transferred to a Nursing Facility certified by Medicaid, but not certified by Medicare
65 Discharged/transferred to a Psychiatric Hospital or Psychiatric distinct part unit of a hospital
70 Effective 10/1/07: Discharged/transferred to another type of institution not defined elsewhere
6 Discharged/transferred to Home under care of Organized Home Health Service Organization 6 Home Health Care (HHC)
8 Home IV Provider
50 Hospice-Home
7 Left Against Medical Advice or Discontinued Care 7 Against Medical Advice (AMA)
20 Expired 20 Died
40 Expired at home 99 Discharge alive, destination unknown
41 Expired in a Medical Facility
42 Expired - place unknown
99 Discharged alive, destination unknown
. Missing . Missing
.A Invalid .A Invalid

The next table lists how the values of DISPUB92 map to the values of DISPUniform:

Coding of DISPUB92 into DISPUniform
DISPUB92 DISPUniform
Value Description Value Description
1 Routine 1 Routine
71 Another institution for outpatient services. Value was added beginning in the 2000 HCUP data.
72 This institution for outpatient services. Value was added beginning in the 2000 HCUP data.
2 Short-term Hospital 2 Transfer to Short-term Hospital
9 Admitted as an inpatient to this hospital. Valid only on outpatient data. Value was added beginning in the 2001 HCUP data.
43 Federal health facility
3 Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) 5 Transfer Other: Includes Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF), Intermediate Care Facility (ICF), Another Type of Facility
4 Intermediate Care Facility (ICF)
5 Another Type of Facility
51 Hospice - Medical Facility
61 Within this institution to a hospital-based Medicare approved swing bed. Value was added beginning in the 2000 HCUP data.
62 Discharge, transferred to another rehabilitation facility including rehabilitation distinct part units of a hospital. Value was added beginning in 2001 HCUP data.
63 Discharge, transferred to a long term care hospital swing bed. Value was added beginning in the 2001 HCUP data.
64 Discharge, transferred to a nursing facility certified by Medicaid, but not certified by Medicare. Value was added beginning in the 2002 HCUP data.
65 Discharge, transferred to a psychiatric hospital or psychiatric distinct unit of a hospital. Value was added beginning in the 2004 HCUP data.
6 Home Health Care (HHC) 6 Home Health Care (HHC)
8 Home IV Provider
50 Hospice-Home
7 Against Medical Advice (AMA) 7 Against Medical Advice (AMA)
20 Died in Hospital 20 Died
40 Died at Home. Prior to the 2001 data, value 40 "Died at Home" was mapped to missing (.). 99 Discharge alive, destination unknown. Value was added beginning in the 2001 data.
41 Died in Medical Facility. Prior to 2001 data, value 41 "Died in Medical Facility" was mapped to missing (.).
42 Died, place unknown. Prior to the 2001 data, value 42 "Died, place unknown" was mapped to missing (.).
99 Discharged alive, destination unknown. Value was added beginning in the 2001 data.
. Missing . Missing
.A Invalid .A Invalid

DISP_X retains the disposition of patient as provided by the data source.
 
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Uniform Values
 
VariableDescriptionValueValue Description
DISPUniformDisposition of patient, uniform coding1Routine
2Transfer to short-term hospital
5Transfer other: includes Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF), Intermediate Care Facility (ICF), and another type of facility
6Home Health Care (HHC)
7Against medical advice (AMA)
20Died in hospital
21Discharged/transferred to court/law enforcement
99Discharged alive, destination unknown, beginning in 2001
.Missing
.AInvalid
 
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State Specific Notes

California
California
DISP_X DISPUniform
Value Description Value Description
01 Routine (Home) 1 Routine
09 Prison/Jail
02 Acute care (within this hospital) 2 Transfer to short-term hospital
05 Acute care (another hospital)
03 Other care (within this hospital) 5 Transfer other: includes skilled nursing facility, intermediate care facility, and other types of facility
04 Skilled nursing/Intermediate care (within this hospital)
06 Other care (another hospital)
07 Skilled nursing/Intermediate care (another hospital)
08 Residential care facility
12 Home Health Services 6 Home health care
10 Against medical advice 7 Against medical advice
11 Died 20 Died in hospital
13 Other (beginning in 2001) 99 Discharged alive, destination unknown (beginning in 2001 data)
00, Blank Missing . Missing (includes died outside of hospital)
Any values not documented by the data source .A Invalid

There is not enough detail in the coding of DISP_X to code the HCUP variable DISPUB92.

Beginning in 2001, the DISP_X value of "13" (Other) will be mapped to the HCUP DISPUniform value of "99" (Discharged alive, destination unknown). This change more accurately reflects the documentation provided by California as "Other" does not pertain to "Another Hospital". Prior to 2001, DISP_X value "13" was mapped to the DISPUniform value "5" (Transfer other).


Hawaii

In the 2003 Hawaii SID, one hospital (DSHOSPID "120022") reported incorrect information on the patient's discharge disposition. Too many discharges are reported as "Died in the Hospital" (DISPUniform=20).



Maryland

Maryland does not report this data element for emergency department records. Beginning in 2003 HCUP processing, a small number of ambulatory surgery records were placed in the SEDD due to HCUP guidelines. Consequently, these records contain valid data using Maryland's ambulatory surgery coding definitions.

Beginning in 2007, Maryland included the records from all other outpatients, Greenbaum cancer center, and UMMS shock trauma in the unified AS and ED outpatient data file. The inclusion of these new records resulted in a large increase in the frequency of patients with DISPUNIFORM = 1, Routine.

Many DISP_X values are eliminated in 2006.

Maryland
(Beginning in 2007)
DISP_X DISPUniform
Value Description Value Description
60 Home or self care (beginning 7/05) 1 Routine
21 Acute care unit from on-site rehabilitation (beginning 7/05) 2 Transfer to a Short-term hospital
25 Acute care unit from chronic care unit (beginning 7/05)
40 Another acute care hospital (beginning 7/05)
20 Distinct on-site rehabilitation unit from acute care 5 Transfer other: includes skilled nursing facility, intermediate care facility, and other types of facility
22 Chronis unit from on-site rehabilitation unit (beginning 7/05)
23 On-site rehabilitation unit from chronic care unit (beginning 7/05)
24 Chronic unit from acute care unit (beginning 7/05)
26 On-site psychiatric unit from acute care unit (beginning 7/05)
27 Acute care unit from on-site psychiatric unit (beginning 7/05)
28 On-site subacute (beginning 7/05)
29 On-site hospice unit
41 A rehabilitation hospital or rehab. unit of another hospital (beginning 7/05)
42 A psychiatric hospital or an off-site psych. unit of another hospital (beginning 7/05)
43 A chronic hospital (beginning 7/05)
44 A nursing facility (beginning 7/05)
45 A subacute facility (beginning 7/05)
46 Other health care facility (beginning 7/05)
62 Nursing home (beginning 7/05)
61 Home Under the care of a home health agency (beginning 7/05) 6 Home health care
71 Left against medical advice (beginning 7/05) 7 Against medical advice
70 Expired (beginning 7/05) 20 Died
--   99 Discharged alive, destination unknown, beginning in 2001
09, Blank, 99 Unknown (Beginning 7/2005) . Missing (includes died outside of hospital)
Any values not documented by the data source .A Invalid
There is not enough detail in the coding of DISP_X to code the HCUP variable DISPUB92.



Maryland
(Effective 2006 Only)
DISP_X DISPUniform
Value Description Value Description
01 Home or self-care (Through 6//05) 1 Routine
60 Home or self care (From 7/05 +)
05 Acute care general hospital (Valid through 6/05) 2 Transfer to short-term hospital
21 Acute care unit from on-site rehabilitation unit (from 7/05 +)
25 Acute care unit from chronic care unit (from 7/05 +)
40 Another acute care hospital (from 7/05 +)
13 Transfer to nursing facility (Thru 6/05) 5 Transfer other: includes skilled nursing facility, intermediate care facility, and other types of facility
20 Distinct on-site rehabilitation unit from acute care
22 Chronis unit from on-site rehabilitation unit (from 7/05 +)
23 On-site rehabilitation unit from chronic care unit (from 7/05 +)
24 Chronic unite from acute care unit (from 7/05 +)
26 On-site psychiatric unit from acute care unit (from 7/05 +)
27 Acute care unit from on-site psychiatric unit (from 7/05 +)
28 On-site subacute (from 7/05 +)
41 A rehabilitation hospital or rehab. unit of another hospital (from 7/05 +)
42 A psychiatric hospital or an off-site psych. unit of another hospital (from 7/05 +)
43 A chronic hospital (from 7/05 +)
44 A nursing facility (from 7/05 +)
45 A subacute facility (from 7/05 +)
46 Other health care facility (from 7/05 +)
62 Nursing home (from 7/05 +)
61 Home Under the care of a home health agency (from 7/05 +) 6 Home health care
71 Left against medical advice (from 7/05 +) 7 Against medical advice
70 Expired (from 7/05 +) 20 Died
--   99 Discharged alive, destination unknown (beginning in 2001 data)
09, Blank Unknown (Thru 6/05) . Missing (includes died outside of hospital)
99 Unknown (from 7/05 +)
Any values not documented by the data source .A Invalid
There is not enough detail in the coding of DISP_X to code the HCUP variable DISPUB92. DISPUniform is coded directly form DISP_X.



Maryland
(Effective 2005 Only)
DISP_X DISPUniform
Value Description Value Description
01 Home or self-care (From 7/2005 +) 1 Routine
60 Home or self care (beginning 7/05)
05 Acute care general hospital (Valid through 6/05) 2 Transfer to short-term hospital
06 Other health care facility (Valid through 6/05) 5 Transfer other: includes skilled nursing facility, intermediate care facility, and other types of facility
10 Rehabilitation facility (Valid through 6/05)
11 Rehabilitation unit of other hospital (Valid through 6/05)
12 On-site distinct rehabilitation unit (Valid through 6/05)
13 Transfer to nursing facility (Valid through 6/05)
14 On-site psychiatric unit (inpatient only) (Valid through 6/05)
15 On-site sub-acute unit (inpatient only) (Valid through 6/05)
16 Other sub-acute care facility (inpatient only) (Valid through 6/05)
21 Acute care unit from on-site rehabilitation (beginning 7/05)
22 Chronis unit from on-site rehabilitation unit (beginning 7/05)
23 On-site rehabilitation unit from chronic care unit (beginning 7/05)
24 Chronic unit from acute care unit (beginning 7/05)
25 Acute care unit from chronic care unit (beginning 7/05)
26 On-site psychiatric unit from acute care unit (beginning 7/05)
27 Acute care unit from on-site psychiatric unit (beginning 7/05)
28 On-site subacute (beginning 7/05)
40 Another acute care hospital (beginning 7/05)
41 A rehabilitation hospital or rehab. unit of another hospital (beginning 7/05)
42 A psychiatric hospital or an off-site psych. unit of another hospital (beginning 7/05)
43 A chronic hospital (beginning 7/05)
44 A nursing facility (beginning 7/05)
45 A subacute facility (beginning 7/05)
46 Other health care facility (beginning 7/05)
62 Nursing home (beginning 7/05)
03 Home health care (Valid through 6/05) 6 Home health care
61 Home Under the care of a home health agency (beginning 7/05)
08 Left against medical advice (Valid through 6/05) 7 Against medical advice
71 Left against medical advice (beginning 7/05)
07 Died (Valid through 6/05) 20 Died
70 Expired (beginning 7/05)
--   99 Discharged alive, destination unknown, beginning in 2001
09, Blank Unknown (Valid through 6/05) . Missing (includes died outside of hospital)
99 Unknown (beginning 7/05)
02 Do not use (Valid through 6/05) .A Invalid
04 Do not use (Valid through 6/05)
Any values not documented by the data source
There is not enough detail in the coding of DISP_X to code the HCUP variable DISPUB92.



Maryland
(Effective Prior to 2005)
DISP_X DISPUniform
Value Description Value Description
01 Home or self-care 1 Routine
05 Acute care general hospital 2 Transfer to short-term hospital
06 Other health care facility 5 Transfer other: includes skilled nursing facility, intermediate care facility, and other types of facility
10 Rehabilitation facility
11 Rehabilitation unit of other hospital
12 On-site distinct rehabilitation unit
13 Transfer to nursing facility
14 On-site psychiatric unit (inpatient only)
15 On-site sub-acute unit (inpatient only)
16 Other sub-acute care facility (inpatient only)
03 Home health care 6 Home health care
08 Left against medical advice 7 Against medical advice
07 Died 20 Died
--   99 Discharged alive, destination unknown (beginning in 2001 data)
09, 99, Blank Unknown . Missing (includes died outside of hospital)
02 Do not use .A Invalid
04 Do not use
Any values not documented by the data source    
There is not enough detail in the coding of DISP_X to code the HCUP variable DISPUB92. DISPUniform is coded directly from DISP_X.


North Carolina

The North Carolina SID for 2007-2008 contain problems with the coding of discharge disposition in one hospital.

  • In both the 2007 and 2008 SID, the coding discrepancy is confined to:
    • One specialty hospital (DSHOSPID=106370060)
    • Four data elements that are used to identify discharge disposition (DIED, DISPUB04, DISPuniform, and DISP_X).
  • The discrepancy results in implausibly high mortality rates for this hospital.

The discharges from this one hospital represent less than 0.15% of the total discharges from North Carolina hospitals in each data year. Consequently, there is very little impact on estimates of state-level mortality rates. However, researchers who are estimating mortality rates for specific hospitals or for specific procedures, for example, hip replacement, should exclude this hospital from their analyses.
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Internet Citation: HCUP Central Distributor SID Description of Data Elements - All States. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). August 2008. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/db/vars/siddistnote.jsp?var=dispuniform.
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Last modified 8/12/08