[Analysis of patterns of in-patient and out-patient mental health care by use of routine data].

Objective: The Centre of Psychiatry Suedwuerttemberg routinely records data on service use of in-patient units, day hospitals and out-patient services on a daily basis as well as data on the respective patients according to the German Basic Documentation (BADO). Other psychiatric services in the catchment area of the districts Ravensburg and Bodenseekreis such as services of sheltered living, residential homes and vocational services collect identical data per day of use. Aim of the study is to compare routinely recorded data of mental health service use and direct cost of service use with sample data. We compared analyses of mental health service use and direct cost of service use with routinely recorded data with analyses using sample data.

Methods: Concerning the year 2008, we joined these different data sets, processing them in order to obtain pseudonymity and fulfil data protection requirements. This joint data set maps the total expenditures for psychiatric care utilisation in this region.

Results: Using a data set of this kind, analyses of health economy are possible which are comparable or even superior to those from sample data.

Conclusion: Routinely recorded data are a cost-saving alternative to sample data.