A paper in the most recent issue of Healthcare argues that claims databases in California and Wisconsin have allowed providers in those states to improve quality while lessening costs. The authors, led by Dr. John Toussaint of the ThedaCare Center for Healthcare Value, believe that the databases allow doctors to compare themselves to their peers and thereby improve quality.
The paper spotlights two data organizations in each state, and describes how they aggregate claims data, lab information, medication lists and other information. For some of the data warehouses, such as the Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality, the resulting data is published in annual reports and allows for custom reporting, meaning that providers can see how they compare in a timely fashion.