Where to start
Understanding variation
A key message from sites is how understanding the variation within their local systems, and understanding why there could be a difference in admissions, length of stay, or cost, between local areas, GPs and healthcare providers, can improve care for patients.
Much of the variation may be valid and have explainable reasons. Often, socioeconomic factors, such as smoking rates, can greatly influence the levels of healthcare need between different areas. Yet, it cannot explain all the variation.
However the key learning is that often we do not know this variation exists, and that by using the data we can see more information about what is happening in the site.
Projects are working to understand the reasons behind variation – by asking "why" there is a difference, we seek to better understand the processes and provision of our services.
Further information