Central Distributor SID: Description of Data Elements

MDID_S - Synthetic attending physician number

Documentation Sections:

General Notes

Uniform Values

State Specific Notes

General Notes

For HCUP data from 2001 to 2002, this data element is called MDNUM1_S. Beginning in 2003, this data element is called MDNUM1_R. MDID_S contains a fixed-key (one-to-one) encryption of the supplied attending physician number (MDID), according to the following rules: All alphanumeric digits are used in the encryption. All symbols such as ".,:;'*@" are retained in the encrypted value, but not in the same location. Leading zeros are encrypted so that the two original physician identifiers "000A6" and "A6" are distinctly different. When the original attending physician and primary surgeon identifiers are the same, the synthetic identifiers, MDID_S and SURGID_S, are the same. When the MDID in the ambulatory surgery data and the inpatient data are the same, the synthetic identifier, MDID_S is the same. Except in those data sources where physician license numbers are supplied, it is not known whether the physician identifier MDID_S refers to individual physicians or to groups. If the attending physician numbers supplied by the data source are not restricted to license numbers, the state-specific note includes available information about reporting practices, including whether MDID_S refers to individual physicians or to groups. Beginning in the 1993 data, supplied physician identifiers were checked for null characters. If null characters were found, they were replaced by blanks before the identifier was encrypted. Since this conversion was not done in prior years of HCUP data, the encrypted physician identifiers from 1993 on may not match those in earlier years. However, null characters are rarely included.

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Uniform Values

Variable Description Value Value Description MDID_S Synthetic attending physician number 16(a) Synthetic physician identifier Blank Missing

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State Specific Notes

Arizona The attending physician identification number (MDID_S) may not accurately track physicians across hospitals for the following reasons: Some hospitals assign their own internal attending physician identification numbers rather than using the license numbers issued by the licensing agency of the physician or other health care practitioner. Information was not available about the prevalence of this practice. Some hospitals use one attending physician identification number for several physicians that are part of the same physician practice group. Information was not available about the prevalence of this practice. The attending physician identification number includes license numbers from the following board of examiners: Medical, Osteopathic, Podiatrists, and Nurses. In addition, Arizona accepts licensing numbers from other health practitioner licensing boards, but these boards are unspecified. Colorado The attending physician identification number (MDID_S) may not accurately track physicians across hospitals. The state encourages hospitals to use the Professional State License Number as an identifier, but some hospitals continue to use their own internal identification number. Also, some hospitals appear to pad the Professional State License Number (a 5-digit code). Information was not available from the data source about the prevalence of these practices. Some hospitals may use one license number for all physicians in order to protect physician confidentiality. Information was not available from the data source about the prevalence of this practice. Florida Florida reports state license numbers for the attending physician identifiers. During HCUP processing, physician identifiers were encrypted (MDID_S). In 1998, the Florida attending physician numbers (MDID and MDID_S) are truncated. Values that are normally 11 bytes in length, for 1998, are only 10 bytes long. Although it may be difficult to track attending physicians to those before and after 1998, it may still be possible. If 10 bytes match without the 11th byte, it is more than likely the same physician. Primary surgeon numbers (SURGID and SURGID _S) are not affected.

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