Development of Compare AD began with the need for standardization in avoidable delay tracking expressed by participants at the 2004 ACMA Leadership Forum. In accordance with ACMA’s mission to support the evolving practice of hospital/health system case management, the association undertook to enhance the tracking and utilization of avoidable delays by hospital case management. ACMA devoted a year to defining avoidable delay categories and standardizing delay definitions to develop a specific, validated delay dictionary. ACMA concurrently developed framework and methodology to compare avoidable delay performance with these standardized codes.

The system then underwent two phases of Beta testing over 30 months. Using the feedback from leaders at Beta testing organizations and process refinements, the system was refined before being branded Compare AD and offered nationally.

The dictionary and comparative analytic process developed by ACMA was first implemented in three Beta I organizations, who tested the system for one year. Six additional organizations were added to for Beta II testing, which was conducted over 18 months. ACMA and Compare AD recognize these organizations for their key role in the development of the final system:

Beta I Subscribers

• Rex Health · Raleigh, NC
• Rush University Medical Center · Chicago, IL
• Sutter Medical Center · Sacramento, CA

Beta II Subscribers

• Beaumont Hospital - Troy · Troy, MI
• Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center · Corvallis, OR
• Holy Cross Hospital · Silver Spring, MD
• Lee Memorial Health System – Cape Coral · Cape Coral, FL
• Lee Memorial Health System – Health Park · Ft. Myers, FL
• Maine General Hospital · Augusta, ME
• Northwestern University Medical Center · Chicago, IL
• Rex Health · Raleigh, NC
• Rush University Medical Center · Chicago, IL
• Sutter Medical Center · Sacramento, CA