How do I correctly calculate N-SSATS client counts and admissions using SDA?

The N-SSATS is a database of facilities, not clients or admissions. Thus, calculating client counts / admissions using one of the client counts / admissions variables might produce unexpected results. This note describes how to correctly calculate client counts and admissions for N-SSATS data.

The client counts and admissions variables are listed in the following sections of the codebook:

• Section B: Reporting Client Counts
• Hospital Inpatient Client Counts
• Residential (Non-Hospital) Client Counts
• Outpatient Client Counts
• Totals and Percentages
• (Excluding the variables that give percentages)
• Section 7: Added variables

To correctly calculate client counts or admissions, do the following:

1. Access N-SSATS within SDA.
2. Go to the "Analysis" menu (top left) and select "Comparison of means".
3. For the "Dependent" variable, specify one of the client counts or admissions variables. For example, specify T_METH for the total number of methadone clients on the reference date.
4. Specify an appropriate "Row" variable, such as STFIPS for the state.
5. Specify the "Column", "Control", and "Selection Filter(s)" variables as needed. For example, under "Selection Filter(s)", you might state "YEAR(2010), OTP(1)" to restrict analysis to the year 2010 and to facilities that operated a certified Opioid Treatment Program.
6. Set the "Main statistic to display" to "Totals (numerator of means)". This is a key step.
7. Under "Table Options" uncheck all the checkboxes.
8. Make any other adjustments to the display options that are necessary. For example, if you don't want a chart, change "Type of Chart" to "(No Chart)".
9. Click "Run the Table". The output table from this example gives the total number of methadone clients on the reference date by state in 2010 in facilities that operated a certified Opioid Treatment Program.