WGU D514 Analytical Methods in
Healthcare 2025-2026 UPDATED
Master population/Patient Index (MPI) - ANS ✔✔Assigns specific medical record number to
avoid duplicate patient records. Includes patient's demographic information and dates of
encounters.
Disease Registries - ANS ✔✔Secondary data gathered on patient diagnosis, condition, and
procedure. Used for public health purposes and documenting disease prevalence.
LOS/ALOS - ANS ✔✔Average number of days a patient spends in the hospital. Tracked to gauge
the efficiency of a healthcare facility.
CMS - ANS ✔✔Responsible for developing U.S. healthcare policy; administers the Medicare
program and federal portion of Medicaid program.
HRRP - ANS ✔✔Affordable Care Act (ACA) added a section to Social Security Act in 2012,
requiring CMS to reduce payments to hospitals with excessive readmissions. Data gathered is
response to the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP), which is a Medicare value-
based purchasing program.
Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Professionals - ANS ✔✔An effective indicator that
measures quality provided, communication from providers, and other aspects of care delivery. It
affects clinical outcomes, patient retention, and medical malpractice claims.
Mortality after acute Mis - ANS ✔✔Reflects the health status of cardiac patients and
effectiveness of services.
,Central Line Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI) - ANS ✔✔Data tracked to ensure best practices in
treating patients receiving repeated IV medication or fluids. Catheter can become infected over
time if guidelines preventing bacterial contamination are not followed.
Pain Management - ANS ✔✔Tracking this data helps providers understand why certain patients
improve faster than others, and why some are more vulnerable to depression due to chronic
pain or addiction.
Hosptal Quietness and Cleanliness - ANS ✔✔Measured in patient satisfaction surveys as a
subjective indicator of hospital environment.
Post-op infections - ANS ✔✔This data useful as a quality measurement to improve care during
and after surgery.
Pressure Ulcer rates - ANS ✔✔Data tracked on incidence, prevalence, and facility-acquired rates
to improve quality of care and develop best practices to address skin breakdown.
Catheter Assoc UTI (CAUTI) - ANS ✔✔This hospital-acquired infection is tracked and reported to
Medicare. One of the first hospital-acquired conditions selected for nonpayment by Medicare.
Staff Performance, turnover, Absenteeism - ANS ✔✔Organizations track this human resource
data to optimize employee skill sets and build a stronger organizational culture.
Accounts receivable and cost data - ANS ✔✔Tracking this data ensures adequate resources for
long- and short-term goals and financial planning.
HRSA Data: Health Resources and Services Administration - ANS ✔✔It is the primary federal
agency for improving healthcare to the geographically isolated, and economically or medically
vulnerable. EQUITY
, Health Payment Systems Data - ANS ✔✔Data pulled from coding/billing departments.
MEPS data from CMS: The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey - ANS ✔✔Administered by Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Surveys families, individuals, providers, employers in
the U.S. Gathers data on cost, use of healthcare services, and health insurance coverage.
NIH data, National Insttutes of Health - ANS ✔✔U.S. Medical Research Agency is part of the
Department of Health and Human Services.
Joint Commission - ANS ✔✔Through its accreditation process it requires the gathering and
reporting of specific data to demonstrate safety, quality care, and performance improvement in
healthcare organizations.
Surveillance Records - ANS ✔✔These records are kept and reviewed to maintain health history
on employees who may be exposed to hazardous materials, eliminate causes of exposure and
prevent medical issues from developing. Contribute to worksite health and safety programs.
Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MEDPAR) - ANS ✔✔Acute care and skilled nursing
facility claim data on Medicare patients.
National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) - ANS ✔✔Database queried as part of physician
credentialing process when applying for medical staff privileges and every two years afterward.
It contains data on medical malpractice, adverse licensure actions, suspensions, and
professional review actions.
Public Health Databases - ANS ✔✔Holds data on incidence and prevalence of diseases; survival
statistics; high-risk populations; and tracks trends over time. Data is gathered from medical
records, surveys, and interviews. National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is responsible for
these databases.
Healthcare 2025-2026 UPDATED
Master population/Patient Index (MPI) - ANS ✔✔Assigns specific medical record number to
avoid duplicate patient records. Includes patient's demographic information and dates of
encounters.
Disease Registries - ANS ✔✔Secondary data gathered on patient diagnosis, condition, and
procedure. Used for public health purposes and documenting disease prevalence.
LOS/ALOS - ANS ✔✔Average number of days a patient spends in the hospital. Tracked to gauge
the efficiency of a healthcare facility.
CMS - ANS ✔✔Responsible for developing U.S. healthcare policy; administers the Medicare
program and federal portion of Medicaid program.
HRRP - ANS ✔✔Affordable Care Act (ACA) added a section to Social Security Act in 2012,
requiring CMS to reduce payments to hospitals with excessive readmissions. Data gathered is
response to the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP), which is a Medicare value-
based purchasing program.
Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Professionals - ANS ✔✔An effective indicator that
measures quality provided, communication from providers, and other aspects of care delivery. It
affects clinical outcomes, patient retention, and medical malpractice claims.
Mortality after acute Mis - ANS ✔✔Reflects the health status of cardiac patients and
effectiveness of services.
,Central Line Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI) - ANS ✔✔Data tracked to ensure best practices in
treating patients receiving repeated IV medication or fluids. Catheter can become infected over
time if guidelines preventing bacterial contamination are not followed.
Pain Management - ANS ✔✔Tracking this data helps providers understand why certain patients
improve faster than others, and why some are more vulnerable to depression due to chronic
pain or addiction.
Hosptal Quietness and Cleanliness - ANS ✔✔Measured in patient satisfaction surveys as a
subjective indicator of hospital environment.
Post-op infections - ANS ✔✔This data useful as a quality measurement to improve care during
and after surgery.
Pressure Ulcer rates - ANS ✔✔Data tracked on incidence, prevalence, and facility-acquired rates
to improve quality of care and develop best practices to address skin breakdown.
Catheter Assoc UTI (CAUTI) - ANS ✔✔This hospital-acquired infection is tracked and reported to
Medicare. One of the first hospital-acquired conditions selected for nonpayment by Medicare.
Staff Performance, turnover, Absenteeism - ANS ✔✔Organizations track this human resource
data to optimize employee skill sets and build a stronger organizational culture.
Accounts receivable and cost data - ANS ✔✔Tracking this data ensures adequate resources for
long- and short-term goals and financial planning.
HRSA Data: Health Resources and Services Administration - ANS ✔✔It is the primary federal
agency for improving healthcare to the geographically isolated, and economically or medically
vulnerable. EQUITY
, Health Payment Systems Data - ANS ✔✔Data pulled from coding/billing departments.
MEPS data from CMS: The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey - ANS ✔✔Administered by Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Surveys families, individuals, providers, employers in
the U.S. Gathers data on cost, use of healthcare services, and health insurance coverage.
NIH data, National Insttutes of Health - ANS ✔✔U.S. Medical Research Agency is part of the
Department of Health and Human Services.
Joint Commission - ANS ✔✔Through its accreditation process it requires the gathering and
reporting of specific data to demonstrate safety, quality care, and performance improvement in
healthcare organizations.
Surveillance Records - ANS ✔✔These records are kept and reviewed to maintain health history
on employees who may be exposed to hazardous materials, eliminate causes of exposure and
prevent medical issues from developing. Contribute to worksite health and safety programs.
Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MEDPAR) - ANS ✔✔Acute care and skilled nursing
facility claim data on Medicare patients.
National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) - ANS ✔✔Database queried as part of physician
credentialing process when applying for medical staff privileges and every two years afterward.
It contains data on medical malpractice, adverse licensure actions, suspensions, and
professional review actions.
Public Health Databases - ANS ✔✔Holds data on incidence and prevalence of diseases; survival
statistics; high-risk populations; and tracks trends over time. Data is gathered from medical
records, surveys, and interviews. National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is responsible for
these databases.
