The Kid's Inpatient Database (KID) is scheduled to be released in June 2011. Database development was supported by The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to include pediatric inpatient data gathered by state and federal agencies. Information related to trends in healthcare use, charges, access, quality, and outcomes for the pediatric population is available to assist in analysis and policy-making decisions. KID provides information related to hospital services by newborns, children, and adolescents up to age 20 years. The information allows researchers, healthcare practitioners, and administrators to examine specific conditions, procedures, and subpopulations in the pediatric group using a compilation of information from 38 states. Data available include diagnoses, discharge status, demographics, payment sources, length of stay, and hospital characteristics.

KID is available to nonprofit and for-profit organizations. The database increases our knowledge related to pediatric conditions such as congenital anomalies, will help us to analyze the economic burden of certain conditions or procedures, and will assist us in correlating pediatric conditions with specific outcomes. The KID database has the potential to be a useful resource in further developing evidence-based nursing care for the pediatric population.

Source: AHRQ. April 7, 2011. Kid's Inpatient Database scheduled for release this summer. AHRQ Child and Adolescent Health Update. 2011;13(3). Available athttps://mail.google.com/mail/?hl=en&shva=1#inbox/12f351a3c24b3572. Accessed on April 8, 2011.

Submitted by: Robin E. Pattillo, PhD, RN, CNL, News Editor at [email protected].