title: Development of an algorithm to identify fall-related injuries and costs in Medicare data.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Identifying fall-related injuries and costs using healthcare claims data is cost-effective and easier to implement than using medical records or patient self-report to track falls. We developed a comprehensive four-step algorithm for identifying episodes of care for fall-related injuries and associated costs, using fee-for-service Medicare and Medicare Advantage health plan claims data for 2,011 patients from 5 medical groups between 2005 and 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  First, as a preparatory step, we identified care received in acute inpatient and skilled nursing facility settings, in addition to emergency department visits. Second, based on diagnosis and procedure codes, we identified all fall-related claim records. Third, with these records, we identified six types of encounters for fall-related injuries, with different levels of injury and care. In the final step, we used these encounters to identify episodes of care for fall-related injuries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To illustrate the algorithm, we present a representative example of a fall episode and examine descriptive statistics of injuries and costs for such episodes. Altogether, we found that the results support the use of our algorithm for identifying episodes of care for fall-related injuries. When we decomposed an episode, we found that the details present a realistic and coherent story of fall-related injuries and healthcare services. Variation of episode characteristics across medical groups supported the use of a complex algorithm approach, and descriptive statistics on the proportion, duration, and cost of episodes by healthcare services and injuries verified that our results are consistent with other studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This algorithm can be used to identify and analyze various types of fall-related outcomes including episodes of care, injuries, and associated costs. Furthermore, the algorithm can be applied and adopted in other fall-related studies with relative ease.
authors.affiliation: Pardee RAND Graduate School, 1776 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90407, USA. skim@prgs.edu.
authors.forename: Sung-Bou
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Center for Health Sciences, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Zingmond
authors.affiliation: RAND Health, RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90407, USA.
authors.forename: Emmett B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Keeler
authors.affiliation: Multicampus Program in Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Center for Health Sciences, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Lee A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Center for Health Sciences, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.|RAND Health, RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90407, USA.
authors.forename: Neil S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Wenger
authors.affiliation: Multicampus Program in Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Center for Health Sciences, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Reuben
authors.affiliation: RAND Health, RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90407, USA. dganz@mednet.ucla.edu.|Multicampus Program in Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Center for Health Sciences, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA. dganz@mednet.ucla.edu.|Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, and Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy, Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, 11301 Wilshire Blvd (11G), Los Angeles, CA, 90073, USA. dganz@mednet.ucla.edu.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ganz
keywords: Algorithm; Fall; Fall-related injury; HCPCS; ICD-9-CM; Medicare