A proprietary dictionary of standardized delay reason codes is utilized by all subscribers to allow comparisons between organizations – all comparisons and benchmarks are calculated as a rate per number of discharges. This allows valid comparisons between organizations of widely varying sizes. For example, the organizations involved in Beta testing Compare AD varied widely in size as well as location and setting. During 15 months of Beta II testing, the most commonly reported delay was SNF Placement Not Available. On average, delays for this reason occurred for 0.4% of the patients discharged. The national benchmark for this delay, therefore, was four patients out of every thousand discharged.

Tracking delays reflects the foundation philosophy of Compare AD that tracking avoidable delays is valuable for process improvement, not solely for preventing reimbursement denials. Delays can vary widely in their time impact – some prevent discharge for only a few hours and others for more than a day. All delays, however, negatively impact patient care and throughput, and represent potential opportunities for improvement.

The Compare AD dictionary includes those delay reasons for which tracking can produce actionable performance improvement information. However, some organizations elect to track additional causes of delays that are not included in the Compare AD dictionary – usually because they are an issue specific to that organization. Compare AD does not preclude the ability to track these additional delays. The dictionary includes five categories of delays; to track additional delays organizations simply group these reasons into a sixth category. The subscribing organization would then remove these additional delay codes prior to submitting data to ACMA.

Yes – Compare AD does not require a software specific to case management. Organizations can implement Compare AD with any commercial or hospital developed software system.

No. Compare AD is not built on a specific set of medical criteria but instead on a nationally tested set of categories, definitions and causes, and can therefore be used in conjunction with any medical criteria. Delays in patient care may exist whether or not they meet medical criteria for inpatient care, and whether or not the delay actually causes a denial of reimbursement. Delays that do not result in a denial still negatively impact throughput and patient care. Compare AD data helps identify opportunities for improvement, regardless of criteria set.

Data can be submitted through the subscriber portal (login required) on the Compare AD website. Each subscriber has a unique secure portal that allows them to submit data, access their benchmarking reports for viewing or download, and modify their contact or organizational information.

Quarterly benchmarking reports are placed in each subscriber’s secure portal, where subscribers may login to view, print or download them. Subscribers are notified by email when new reports become available. Subscribers may also have a hardcopy of their reports mailed to them.

New subscriber education is provided at implementation to both leaders and staff through conference call(s) and/or webinar(s). Implementation education trains subscribers to use the system(s), and refocuses staff on delay tracking and prevention.

No. Compare AD was developed by ACMA, but membership is not required to be a Compare AD subscriber.

Do you have other questions that are not answered above? Please call the ACMA National Office at 501-907-2262 or email your question to avoidabledelay@acmaweb.org.