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DATA RELEASE

This page provides information about the release of public use data from the Physician Office Visit data system. Please contact the Bureau of Health Information and Policy if you would like information about custom data. 

Public Use Data Files

Physician Office Visit (POV) information provides insights about outpatient health care services delivered by Wisconsin physicians. The public use data files provide information about the most frequent outpatient procedures and associated charges, and assist in determining the difference in charges for those procedures when performed in an outpatient versus an inpatient care setting. In combination with information from other health care providers, the data provides an opportunity to better understand and improve the health status of Wisconsin communities, the operation of the health care system and the health care decisions made by consumers, policymakers and purchasers.

The POV public use data files also provide insights to health care providers about practice patterns, enable health care purchasers to conduct market analyses, and help policymakers learn more about the health status and health care utilization of Wisconsin citizens. More uses of the POV data will emerge as data users gain knowledge and experience with the new information.

Information about the POV Public Use Data Files is available below in the following sections:

Product Types

Two versions of the POV public use data files are available: Standard Edition and Enhanced Edition.

The Standard Edition is a basic product that contains only non-confidential data elements with general-level information. The location of residence and exact age of a patient are replaced by calculated variables, county of residence and age group, respectively.

The Enhanced Edition is a product adding five calculated variables that enable data users to conduct health research or epidemiological analyses about patients, visits, or provider specialty on a population basis.

No physician or patient identifiers are included in any public use data files.

 Data Elements in the Standard Edition Public Use Data File

The Standard Edition POV public use data file adds 26 clinical and nonclinical data elements for each physician service rendered in an outpatient office setting. Data elements are:

• POV record ID
• Patient’s sex, age group, and county of residence
• Primary and secondary payer categories
• Service year and quarter
• Principal diagnosis
• Diagnoses 2 - 8
• Procedure code and charge amount
• Facility name
• Facility street address, city name, state code, and zip code.

 Data Elements in the Enhanced Edition Public Use Data File

The Enhanced Edition POV public use data file adds five calculated variables: a linking data element (POV record ID), two calculated patient variables, a calculated visit variable, and physician specialty variable. The POV record ID permits record linking between the standard and the enhanced public use data files.

• POV record ID
• POV visit ID
• Provider patient ID
• Common patient ID
• Physician specialty code

Data User Guide

Comprehensive details of the file formats, record structures, data elements, privacy and confidentiality policies, and other related information about the POV public use data files are provided in the User Guide to the POV Public Use Data Files.

Data User Guide - Release 2.0 (PDF, 570 KB)

Data Use Agreement for the POV Public Use Data Files

Every user of the POV Public Use Data Files is required to sign a Data Use Agreement. Without a properly signed and notarized data use agreement, a person is prohibited from accessing the POV Public Use Data Files. This agreement addresses user obligations and commitments found in the privacy and confidentiality provisions of Federal and State regulations.

Data Use Agreement for POV Public Use Data Files (PDF, 51 KB) Revised 7/04

Note: The POV Data Use Agreement consists of two pages, which must be printed on a double-sided, single sheet of paper. Signed and notarized data use agreements should be mailed to:

Physician Office Visit Data - DUA
Bureau of Health Information and Policy
PO Box 2659
Madison WI 53701-2659

Ordering POV Public Use Data Files

Both the Standard Edition and the Enhanced Edition public use data files are released on a reporting period basis. Users must sign a data use agreement before receiving the POV public use data files. Any use of the data to identify any person or to disclose the identity of any person, or for any purpose other than analysis and aggregate statistical reporting, violates s.153.45, Wis. Stats., "Release of data;" s.153.50, Wis. Stats., "Protection of patient confidentiality;" and the data use agreement.

Below is a list of POV product options and pricing. Product and pricing options are reviewed and modified periodically by the Department.

If you have any questions about the use of the data files or would like to order data, please contact Audrey Nohel at Audrey.Nohel@wisconsin.gov or telephone (608) 267-0244.

Hardware and Software Requirements

The POV public use data files are provided in ASCII format on either CD or DVD (depending on data file size) and can be run on desktop computers with a CD-ROM or DVD reader. The CD or DVD will also include a set of sample files for testing purposes. The sample data file consists of a limited number of records constructed using file definitions used for the regular files in the CD or DVD. It gives users a quick view of record structure and data definitions before starting to load the large data file.

 Citing POV Public Use Data

Any statistical reporting or analysis based on the POV Public Use Data Files shall cite the source as the following:

Wisconsin Physician Office Visit Public Use Data Files ([year and quarter of data]). Bureau of Health Information and Policy, Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Madison, Wisconsin. [Date of publication].

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Last Revised: October 24, 2008