A Review of the Use of Large Datasets for Ascertainment of Cost Variation Across Institutions in Pediatric Medicine

Abstract

Large datasets have been utilized frequently in the recent years to describe cost variation in pediatric medicine. Strengths of administrative datasets include their ability to provide cost data for a large nationwide sample in an economical manner. Limitations of these databases include the potential for coding errors and lack of clinical depth at the patient level. The linkage of administrative datasets with clinical registry or clinical trial data mitigates these shortcomings and provides a valuable method to accurately describe cost variation across institutions., Copyright © 2016, Springer International Publishing AG.