Visitlink not found error message while coding in HCUP SID database

[charleenjm]

Hello,

I am searching for sickle cell admissions on HCUP SID Databases in 5 select states: NY, NJ, NC, FL, and MD from 2016-2020. I was successful in finding unique sickle cell patient and unique admissions in New York State. However, I tried to run the same codes in SAS for New Jersey and North Carolina but I get an error message "Variable VISITLINK not found." I thought visitlink was available for all states. Is there something wrong with my code?

[SASKiwi]

Use PROC CONTENTS to list the variables in your dataset:

proc contents data = MyDataset;
run

Maybe there is a problem earlier in your code that dropped the variable you need. Use PROC CONTENTS to find where that variable got dropped. 

[charleenjm]

Hi! Thanks so much for getting back to me. It was brought to my attention that certain states don't use the VisitLink variable.  So NJ and NC do not use them.