Hospital Data Initiative

NAHDO’s commitment to state hospital discharge data (HDD) programs dates back to our founding in 1986. The Hospital Data Initiative (HDI) provides targeted support, technical resources, and national collaboration for state agencies, data submitters, and health services researchers managing inpatient hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and ambulatory surgery data systems.

Hospital discharge data remains one of the nation’s foundational public health and policy assets. Over four decades, NAHDO’s technical standards and peer networks have driven significant improvements in the quality, consistency, and public utility of facility-level reporting systems nationwide.

As healthcare delivery continues shifting to outpatient settings and demands for timely surveillance grow, the Hospital Data Initiative addresses the evolving needs of facility data collection, data standardization, and analytic capacity.

Core Focus Areas

The initiative delivers value across three operational priorities designed to strengthen state reporting infrastructure and peer connection:

  • Hospital Data Forum

    A community of practice for state hospital discharge data program managers, analysts, and data partners. The Forum meets quarterly to share operational solutions, work through emerging technical issues, and exchange lessons learned.
    Joining: participation is open to anyone interested. To be added to the invite list, e-mail info@nahdo.org.

  • Educational Resources & Toolkits

    Practical materials developed to accelerate onboarding and technical mastery. Key assets include foundational resources like Hospital Data 101, alongside guidance on data curation, data collection standards, and best practices for public reporting.

  • AHRQ / HCUP Collaboration

    Direct, formalized coordination between state data stewards and the federal Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). NAHDO facilitates dedicated access to federal agency leadership, partner forums, and collaborative data enhancement opportunities.

Sponsored By

  • hMetrix
  • System13

The Hospital Data Forum: Meeting Cadence

To provide consistent support throughout the year, the Forum operates on a structured quarterly schedule featuring presentations on high-priority topics followed by structured peer Q&A:

  • Quarter 1 (February): Virtual meeting — technical briefing and peer exchange
  • Quarter 2 (May): In-person networking and strategic discussion, held at NAHDO Connect
  • Quarter 3 (August): Virtual meeting — technical briefing and peer exchange
  • Quarter 4 (November): Virtual meeting — technical briefing and peer exchange

Interested in joining the Hospital Data Forum or accessing HDI technical resources? Contact us at info@nahdo.org