Data Accuracy

Leapfrog ASC Survey Results are publicly reported on Leapfrog's public reporting website and used by purchasers and consumers, regional and national health plans, transparency vendors, and researchers. The accuracy of the data we publish and distribute is of utmost importance. Leapfrog has several protocols in place to ensure the accuracy of our data. Each protocol is described in detail below. 

Affirmation of Accuracy

At the end of each section of the Survey, the facility's administrator, or their designee, complete an Affirmation of Accuracy, affirming that the information the facility has submitted in that section of the Survey is indeed accurate. Leapfrog reserves the right to require documentation before certifying and/or publishing any information collected via the Survey does exercise this right at random.

Warnings in the Online ASC Survey Tool

Leapfrog’s Online ASC Survey Tool requires facilities to “check for Data Review warnings” before they are able to submit a Survey. When the facility's administrator, or their designee, clicks this button on the Survey Dashboard, sections that have been completed and affirmed will be scanned for potential data entry errors and inconsistencies. The facility will still be able to submit the Survey, but will be contacted by the Help Desk via email to either (1) correct the error or (2) document that the original response was correct. The Data Review warning system gives facilities an opportunity to correct potential errors immediately – while they are still in the Online ASC Survey Tool.

If a facility receives a "Data Review warning," they can either:

  • Review their response and make corrections on the spot. Facilities will need to re-affirm any updated sections before they attempt to submit them again. 
  • Print their “data review warning” and investigate the issue. Facilities are encouraged to contact the Help Desk if they have any questions.

Extensive Monthly Data Verification

Upon the receipt of a facility's submitted Leapfrog ASC Survey, The Leapfrog Group conducts an extensive Data Verification of each response submitted in the Survey. The Leapfrog Group conducts this Data Verification monthly beginning with June 30 submissions until the Survey is taken offline on January 31. For ASCs that submit the Survey by June 30, data verification messages are emailed to the primary Survey Contact, secondary Survey Contact (if applicable) and Affiliation/Management Company Contact (if applicable) on or around July 12, when Survey Results are first published on the ASC Details Page. After the June 30 deadline, data verification messages are emailed to Survey Contacts within the first 5 business days of the month AFTER Survey submission (i.e., messages will be sent within the first 5 business days of August for Surveys submitted by July 31).

To identify potential data entry or reporting errors, quantitative responses are assessed using empirically driven, normative data quality thresholds. The data quality thresholds are constructed with both high and low benchmarks of acceptability. Data quality thresholds for each question are determined from both external data sources (e.g., state quality reports, other national performance measurement entities) and historical Leapfrog ASC Survey data, as it becomes available. The Data Verification also includes assessing qualitative responses for potential data entry errors and inconsistencies. Applying this review methodology, The Leapfrog Group assigns each response into one of three categories:

  • Category C: The response provided is plausible and within the data quality thresholds; Leapfrog will not contact the ASC.
  • Category B: The response provided is plausible, but it falls outside the data quality thresholds; Leapfrog will contact the ASC and action from the ASC is requested. 
  • Category A: The response provided is considered implausible, given that the response falls outside of the data quality thresholds and appears to have been provided with the intent to mislead; Leapfrog will contact the ASC and action from the ASC is required.

ASCs that receive a Category B Data Verification message at the beginning of the month for any measure will be asked to review the associated Survey questions and measure specifications to ensure the submitted responses are correct. ASCs are asked to (1) contact the Help Desk to confirm the original responses are correct so we can discontinue the Monthly Data Verification message or (2) to update and resubmit the Survey if a correction is needed. 

ASCs that receive a Category A Data Verification message at the beginning of the month for any measure will have until the end of that same month to contact the Help Desk to either (1) document that the original response was correct or (2) correct the data entry or reporting error, or they will be publicly reported as “Pending Leapfrog Verification” for that measure. This term is used to indicate that the ASC has self-reported Survey responses that are under further review by Leapfrog. 

If any Category A Data Verification messages are not resolved by January 31 (when the Online ASC Survey Tool is taken offline), the entire Survey will be decertified and all measures will be publicly reported as “Declined to Respond.”

In the interim (that is, prior to Leapfrog's receipt of an ASC's response to a Category B Data Verification message or prior to the end of the month for Category A Data Verification messages), the original Survey Results are publicly reported on Leapfrog’s website.

When Leapfrog is contacted about a particular Survey response or Leapfrog representatives are made aware of a potential error in reporting, Leapfrog does investigate these concerns and the ASC’s Survey is subject to decertification.

Monthly Documentation Requirements

In addition to the pre- and post-submission protocols described above, Leapfrog also randomly selects facilities to submit documentation to verify the accuracy of various responses from the Survey on a monthly basis. Facilities must respond to the documentation request within 30 days or risk having the section publicly reported as "Pending Leapfrog Verification." If any Monthly Verification Request is not responded to by January 31 (when the Online ASC Survey Tool is taken offline), the entire Survey will be decertified and all measures will be publicly reported as “Declined to Respond.”

Virtual On-site Data Verification

Virtual On-Site Data Verification builds on Leapfrog’s robust protocols for reviewing Survey responses, and, at the same time, provides facilities with more information on using the Survey Results for quality improvement. Facilities that submitted a 2022 Leapfrog ASC Survey will be eligible for Virtual On-Site Data Verification in 2023. Facilities selected for Virtual On-site Data Verification will be contacted by Leapfrog prior to June 1, 2023. Virtual On-Site Data Verification will take place via Zoom Meetings in September and October. 

 

Leapfrog ASC Survey Binder 

The Leapfrog ASC Survey Binder was originally designed for those facilities that have been selected for Leapfrog’s On-Site Data Verification. However, the Leapfrog ASC Survey Binder document (PDF) is available for use by all facilities to collect, organize, and record information during the completion of the Leapfrog ASC Survey. The document, which is divided into 5 tabs (or sections), one for each section of the Survey, can be printed and placed in a binder. The information is helpful when completing subsequent year’s Surveys, in staff and leadership transitions, and as a historical record. The use of the binder also acquaints facilities with the elements of Virtual On-Site Data Verification.

Download iconDownload the 2023 Leapfrog ASC Survey Binder

 

Visit Newsletter