In 1946, the American Hospital Association began documenting hospitals' services, utilization, personnel and finances. The 1980 survey was a benchmark for AHA in that it expanded the number of data items from approximately 250 to over 1,000. Today, the AHA Annual Survey is completed online by most hospitals and profiles a universe of more than 6,500 hospitals throughout the United States and associated areas.

Accuracy is of primary importance. So is full participation.

• AHA registered hospitals comprise 98% of the survey universe.
• State and local associations, Medicare and Medicaid centers, national organizations and governmental bodies help identify non-registered hospitals.
• These steps yield a high response rate

The survey process validates responses.

• When data is missing, we generate estimates from the previous year's responses, and from comparisons to hospitals of similar size and orientation.
• When there are unusual changes in data from one year to the next, we look for explanations in other responses.
• We aggregate responses by hospital type, size and geographic area, and compare answers to those previously reported. If there are inconsistencies with historic trends, we reexamine individual cases until either the reported results are validated or we identify a specific problem.
• The result: The most credible hospital data available, full of valuable insights.
  

Survey structure captures key areas of comparison.

• Reporting period: on a fiscal year basis.
• Organization: What groups influence control over operations: state, county or city departments; church, corporate or military bodies; primary services that distinguish the hospital and affiliates.
• Facilities and service-line offerings.
• Community benefit: Hospital leadership, strategic planning, human resources management, information management, process management, customer focus and satisfaction, and business results.
• Facilities: Beds, utilization, Medicare/Medicaid utilization, revenue and expenses, revenue by type, uncompensated care, revenue by payer, and staffing.

View the current survey instrument.