Snapshot Date Position

The snapshot date position plays a pivotal role when working with timeline snapshot measures. When a user attaches these measures to a report in the Report Manager, they are prompted to define the start snapshot date position, a point of reference used across all timeline snapshot measures in the report. This date is a part of the regular schedule of 'check-in' dates, also known as snapshot dates, which are imposed following the periodicity of the report. The snapshot date position can be varied within each reporting period, providing flexibility to accommodate different reporting requirements.

The Three Options for Snapshot Date Positioning

When determining the snapshot date position, you have three options:

• Start of Period: In this configuration, the snapshot date aligns with the start of the reporting period. For a calendar quarter, the snapshot might be January 1 or April 1.
• Day Before the End of Period: In this setting, the snapshot date falls just before the end of the period. This positioning is valuable in instances where there's a need to evaluate patient populations immediately before the end of a reporting period.
• End of Period: Here, the snapshot date corresponds with the first day of the subsequent quarter. For instance, if a report starts on January 1, 2011, the snapshot date for the first quarter of the year would be April 1, 2011.

Understanding the Overlap and Differences in Snapshot Date Positioning

There's considerable overlap in the snapshot dates when choosing the Start of Period or End of Period positions. The difference is mostly cosmetic; however, it could be significant for organizations with specific conventions about which effective dates to use when describing a particular period.

For instance, April 1, 2011, under a Start of Period configuration will be associated with the second quarter of 2011. Whereas under the End of Period configuration, it'll be labeled as the first quarter of the period.

There are substantive differences too. For instance, the Start of Period snapshot date might give you January 1, 2011, but not January 1, 2015, depending on the length of the reporting period. In contrast, the End of Period snapshot won't yield January 1, 2011, but will provide January 1, 2015.

When to Use the 'Day Before the End of Period' Positioning

Specific scenarios call for the Day Before the End of Period position. One example is when there's a need to evaluate patient populations immediately prior to the end of the reporting period. This position can align the snapshot date as close to the end of the reporting period as possible without risking a scenario where all the memberships or data might have expired.

For instance, if you need to evaluate a cohort of patients at the end of a calendar year, this setting allows you to do so without losing all those patients because, as of January 1 of the following year, their memberships might have expired, or the data may no longer be valid.

Setting the Snapshot Date Position

To set the snapshot date position, follow these steps:

1. In Report Manager, select the existing report or create a new report.
2. Under Report Measures, select the desired timeline snapshot measure from the drop-down menu and click the plus sign icon to add the measure to the report.
3. Once the measure is attached, you'll be prompted to set the snapshot date position under the 'Report Parameters' panel. You can choose from "Start of Period", "Day Before the End of Period", and "End of Period".
4. Select the desired position and save/run your changes. The snapshot date position is now set for all timeline snapshot measures in the report.

For a more detailed walkthrough of this process, please refer to our tutorial video in the Report Manager product manual.