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KEY contains a unique record identifier. Beginning in the 1998 data, all HCUP databases are sorted by KEY.
KEY can be used to link within a HCUP database, such as linking records in the Core and Charges files in the SID.
KEY can be used to link across HCUP databases within a data type, i.e., link records in the SID to records in the NIS.
KEY is a unique record identifier and not a person identifier. KEY cannot be used to link records between HCUP inpatient and ambulatory surgery files.
KEY replaces the database-specific record identifiers used in the 1988-1997 HCUP databases (SEQ, SEQ_SID, and SEQ_ASD).
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