Section 410IAC34-8-1. Risk adjustment

   (a) The registry will work to improve trauma care in the state by calculating trauma-related incident response and health outcome indicator values for each health care facility and EMS provider, determining and disseminating information best practices that are associated with optimal indicator values, and establishing state benchmark standards to which each reporting entity is accountable.

  (b) Individual and aggregated indicator values must be risk-adjusted before comparisons can be made across groups.

  (c) Risk adjustment accounts for the impact of individual risk factors such as age and the severity of the initial injury that can put some patients at greater risk for medical complications and death.

  (d) By risk-adjusting the indicator values, variation in patient types across groups can be controlled for and appropriate comparisons can be made.

  (e) Risk adjustment of the indicator values will be conducted by registry staff primarily following the methodologies outlined by the American College of Surgeons.

  (f) Other methodologies may be evaluated and used as registry staff deems appropriate. (Indiana State Department of Health; 410 IAC 34-8-1; filed Oct 25, 2013, 2:39 p.m.: 20131120-IR-410120617FRA)