Which of the following is NOT an element of the Uniform Hospital Discharge Data Set (UHDDS)?

The correct choice identifies an element that is not included in the Uniform Hospital Discharge Data Set (UHDDS). The UHDDS is primarily intended to collect data that is essential for understanding patient care outcomes and healthcare statistics in hospitals.

Elements of the UHDDS include admitting diagnosis, discharge diagnoses, and patient demographics. The admitting diagnosis provides insight into the patient's primary condition upon entering the hospital, while discharge diagnoses are necessary to understand the patient's health status upon leaving. Patient demographics, which include information such as age and gender, are critical for analyzing healthcare trends and outcomes across different groups.

Procedure codes, while important in the coding and billing process for hospital services, are typically not considered an integral component of the UHDDS. Instead, the UHDDS is more focused on diagnoses and demographic data as it aims to capture the patient’s journey and outcome through hospitalization rather than detailing the specific procedures performed. This distinction helps clarify why procedure codes do not belong in the UHDDS.