American Journal of Public Health, Vol 90, Issue 12 1920-1923, Copyright © 2000 by American Public Health Association
Length of stay and hospital readmission for persons with disabilities
KJ Ottenbacher, PM Smith, SB Illig, RC Fiedler and CV Granger
University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555-1028, USA. kottenba@utmb.edu
OBJECTIVES: Length of stay (LOS) and hospital readmission for persons
receiving medical rehabilitation were examined. METHODS: A total of 96,473
patient records (1994-1998) were analyzed. Mean age of patients was 68.97
years; 61% were female and 83% were non-Hispanic White. RESULTS: A decrease
in LOS of 6.07 days (SD = 3.23) and increase in hospital readmission were
found across all impairment groups (P < .001). Readmission increases
ranged from 6.7% for amputations to 1.4% for orthopedic conditions. LOS was
longer (2.1 days) for readmitted patients (P < .01). Age was not a
significant predictor of rehospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding
variables associated with rehospitalization is important as prospective
payment systems are introduced for postacute care.