Readmission rate as an indicator of hospital performance: The case of Spain

2004 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 385-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Jiménez-Puente ◽  
Javier García-Alegría ◽  
Jorge Gómez-Aracena ◽  
Luis Hidalgo-Rojas ◽  
Luisa Lorenzo-Nogueiras ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Readmission Rate ◽  
Acute Care Hospital ◽  
Hospital Performance ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Clinical Records ◽  
Avoidable Readmissions

Objectives:Hospital readmission rate is currently used as a quality of care indicator, although its validity has not been established. Our aims were to identify the frequency and characteristics of potential avoidable readmissions and to compare the assessment of quality of care derived from readmission rate with other measure of quality (judgment of experts).Methods:Design: cross-sectional observational study; Setting: acute care hospital located in Marbella, South of Spain; Study participants: random sample of patients readmitted at the hospital within six months from discharge (n=363); Interventions: review of clinical records by a pair of observers to assess the causes of readmissions and their potential avoidability; Main measures: logistic regression analysis to identify the variables from the databases of hospital discharges which are related to avoidability of readmissions. Determination of sensitivity and specificity of different definitions of readmission rate to detect avoidable situations.Results:Nineteen percent of readmissions were considered potentially avoidable. Variables related to readmission avoidability were (i) time elapsed between index admission and readmission and (ii) difference in diagnoses of both episodes. None of the definitions of readmission rate used in this study provided adequate values of sensitivity and specificity in the identification of potentially avoidable readmissions.Conclusions:Most readmissions in our hospital were unavoidable. Thus, readmission rate might not be considered a valid indicator of quality of care.

scholarly journals Thirty-day readmission rate as a surrogate marker for quality of care in neurosurgical patients: a single-center Canadian experience

2019 ◽  
Vol 130 (5) ◽  
pp. 1692-1698 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitchell P. Wilson ◽  
Andrew S. Jack ◽  
Andrew Nataraj ◽  
Michael Chow
Keyword(s):  
Multivariate Analysis ◽  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Readmission Rate ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Surrogate Marker ◽  
Readmission Rates ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Neurosurgical Patients ◽  
Avoidable Readmissions

OBJECTIVEReadmission to the hospital within 30 days of discharge is used as a surrogate marker for quality and value of care in the United States (US) healthcare system. Concern exists regarding the value of 30-day readmission as a quality of care metric in neurosurgical patients. Few studies have assessed 30-day readmission rates in neurosurgical patients outside the US. The authors performed a retrospective review of all adult neurosurgical patients admitted to a single Canadian neurosurgical academic center and who were discharged to home to assess for the all-cause 30-day readmission rate, unplanned 30-day readmission rate, and avoidable 30-day readmission rate.METHODSA retrospective review was performed assessing 30-day readmission rates after discharge to home in all neurosurgical patients admitted to a single academic neurosurgical center from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2011. The primary outcomes included rates of all-cause, unplanned, and avoidable readmissions within 30 days of discharge. Secondary outcomes included factors associated with unplanned and avoidable 30-day readmissions.RESULTSA total of 184 of 950 patients (19.4%) were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge. One-hundred three patients (10.8%) were readmitted for an unplanned reason and 81 (8.5%) were readmitted for a planned or rescheduled operation. Only 19 readmissions (10%) were for a potentially avoidable reason. Univariate analysis identified factors associated with readmission for a complication or persistent/worsening symptom, including age (p = 0.009), length of stay (p = 0.007), general neurosurgery diagnosis (p < 0.001), cranial pathology (p < 0.001), intensive care unit (ICU) admission (p < 0.001), number of initial admission operations (p = 0.01), and shunt procedures (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified predictive factors of readmission, including diagnosis (p = 0.002, OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.4–5.3), cranial pathology (p = 0.002, OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.4–5.3), ICU admission (p = 0.004, OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.3–4.2), and number of first admission operations (p = 0.01, OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.3–0.87). Univariate analysis performed to identify factors associated with potentially avoidable readmissions included length of stay (p = 0.03), diagnosis (p < 0.001), cranial pathology (p = 0.02), and shunt procedures (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified only shunt procedures as a predictive factor for avoidable readmission (p = 0.02, OR 5.6, 95% CI 1.4–22.8).CONCLUSIONSAlmost one-fifth of neurosurgical patients were readmitted within 30 days of discharge. However, only about half of these patients were admitted for an unplanned reason, and only 10% of all readmissions were potentially avoidable. This study demonstrates unique challenges encountered in a publicly funded healthcare setting and supports the growing literature suggesting 30-day readmission rates may serve as an inappropriate quality of care metric in neurosurgical patients. Potentially avoidable readmissions can be predicted, and further research assessing predictors of avoidable readmissions is warranted.

Evaluation of a Hospital-Based Utilization Management Program

1995 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Cardiff ◽  
Geoffrey Anderson ◽  
Samuel Sheps
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Acute Care Hospital ◽  
Severity Of Illness ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Measurement Tool ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Readmission Rates ◽  
Utilization Management ◽  
The Impact

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of a utilization management (UM) program designed to decrease inappropriate use of acute care hospital beds while maintaining quality of care. The measure used to define appropriateness was the ISD-A, a diagnosis-independent measurement tool which relies on severity of illness and intensity of service criteria. The outcome measures for the study included appropriate admission to hospital and continued days of stay in hospital, 30-day readmission rates and physician perceptions of the impact of the intervention on quality of care, access to services and patient discharge patterns. The sample frame for the study included two control and two intervention community hospitals, involving 1,800 patient charts. Readmission rates were determined by analyzing all separations from medical services (N=42,014) in the two experimental and two control hospitals. All physicians with admitting privileges (N=312) at the intervention hospitals were surveyed; obstetricians, pediatricians, and psychiatrists were excluded from the survey. The results of the study demonstrated that the proportion of inappropriate admissions did not decrease significantly in any of the hospitals, but there were significant decreases in inappropriate continued stay in the intervention hospitals (p < 0.05). Both intervention and one of the control hospitals had lower 30-day readmission rates in the “after” period than in the “before” period (p < 0.05). Eighty-six percent believed that there had been no adverse impact on access to care and, although 25% thought the program may have led to premature discharge, this was not supported by the readmission data.

scholarly journals Prevalence of amputations amongst people with type 2 diabetes enrolled in primary care in England

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
B Meza-Torres ◽  
C Heiss ◽  
S Cunningham ◽  
F Carinci ◽  
S de Lusignan
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Quality Of Care ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Distinct Pattern ◽  
National Database ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Clinical Records

Abstract Background Different patterns of co-morbidities observed among people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and lower extremity amputations (LEA) compared with those without may provide insights into the quality of care provided by general practitioners in England. We analysed routinely recorded clinical data to build predictive models for benchmarking and continuous improvement. Methods A cross-sectional computerized data extraction of clinical records from the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Research and Surveillance Centre (RSC) database of people with T2D in England. Key target cases were defined as adults with T2D and a record of major/minor LEA between 2008-2019 vs all subjects with T2D without amputation. Quality of care was assessed in terms of percentage of patients treated with optimal medical therapy and diagnostic procedures and referred to specialized care according to their clinical profile. The association between quality of care and outcomes was explored using a logistic regression model, adjusting for case-mix. Results During the last decade, in a sample covering approximately 7.4% of all general practitioners in England, a total of 1,052 subjects out of 127,100 adults with T2D had a LEA (832 per 100,000). The median time since amputation was 3.4 years. Only 410 (38%) patients had a recorded DFU diagnosis prior to the amputation, with a median of 2 years from diagnosis to amputation. Major LEA was recorded in 280 (27%) cases. People with a record of retinopathy, peripheral arterial disease, renal disease, neuropathy and DFU had a higher risk of amputations. Quality of care was heterogeneous between patients with and without LEA. Conclusions People with T2D and LEA have a distinct pattern of co-morbidities some of which may be sensitive to improved primary care management, and differential quality of care. Models built using this national database can routinely monitor amputations in England. Variation in treatment should be properly investigated. Key messages The automated extraction of clinical cases from a national database may help shed light on clinical patterns among people with diabetes at high risk of amputations, based on evidence-based criteria. Variation in treatment and quality of care among amputated vs non-amputated subjects can be rapidly explored using a cross-sectional analysis of current records.

scholarly journals Quality of care for peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) in Nepal: a cross-sectional study on feasibility and inter-rater agreement of the Peripheral Intravenous Catheters-mini Questionnaire (PIVC-miniQ) in a tertiary care hospital

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. e048370
Author(s):  
Sulekha Shrestha ◽  
Johannes Vieler ◽  
Nikolai Juliussen Haug ◽  
Jan Egil Afset ◽  
Lise Husby Høvik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Tertiary Care Hospital ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Rater Agreement ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sum Score ◽  
Intravenous Catheters

ObjectivesThere is a lack of data regarding the quality of peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC)-related care from low-income and middle-income countries, even though the use of PIVCs may lead to local or severe systemic infections. Our main objective was to assess the feasibility and inter-rater agreement on the PIVC-mini Questionnaire (PIVC-miniQ) in a tertiary care hospital in Nepal.DesignWe performed an observational cross-sectional quantitative study using the PIVC-miniQ to collect information on PIVC quality.SettingSecondary care in a Nepalese hospital. All patients with PIVCs in selected wards were included in the study and PIVCs were assessed independently by two raters. Eight Nepalese nurses, one Nepalese student and three Norwegian students participated as raters.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), positive, negative, absolute agreement, Scott’s pi and sum score were calculated using PIVC-miniQ. We also aimed to describe PIVC quality of care, as it is important to prevent PIVC-associated complications such as phlebitis or catheter-associated bloodstream infections.ResultsA total of 390 patients (409 PIVCs) were included in the study. The ICC between raters was 0.716 for Nepalese raters, 0.644 for Norwegian raters and 0.481 for the pooled data. The most frequently observed problems associated with PIVCs were blood in the intravenous line (51.5%), pain and tenderness on palpation (43.4%), and fixation with opaque tape (38.5%). The average sum score was 3.32 deviations from best practice for PIVCs fixed with non-sterile opaque tape and 2.37 for those fixed with transparent dressing (p<0.001).ConclusionThe PIVC-miniQ is a feasible and reliable tool for nurses assessing PIVC quality in hospitalised patients in Nepal. The study revealed gaps in PIVC quality and care that could be improved by providing transparent PIVC dressings for all patients and requiring all PIVC insertions to be documented in patient charts.

scholarly journals Family Caregivers’ Satisfaction towards the Communication of Health Service Providers in Tertiary Care Hospital of Nepal

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-64
Author(s):  
Sonam Shrestha ◽  
Basant Maharjan ◽  
Swosti Acharya ◽  
Manisha Dangol ◽  
Sunil Shrestha
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Health Service Provider ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Service Providers

Introduction: Patient and family caregivers’ satisfaction is an essential measure of the quality of care and a determinant of health service utilization. Measuring family caregivers’ satisfaction with health service providers is important for understanding and improving the quality of care at health facilities. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the satisfaction of family caregivers towards the communication of health service providers. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted by the development of a questionnaire at one of the tertiary care hospitals. Self-administered questionnaires related to demography and different dimensions on the satisfaction of caregivers towards the communication of health service provider was designed. Sixty caregivers were provided questionnaire and data was collected. Descriptive analysis, frequency, and percentage were calculated using SPSS 23 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) Results: The study showed that the majority of the caregivers (40%) were of the young age group (31-40 years). More than half (53%) of the caregivers were satisfied with different ways of communication about the patient's condition and treatment. In terms of communication mode, the majority of the caregivers were satisfied with related different ways of communication about the patient's condition and treatment (53.3%) followed by verbal (63.6 %) and non-verbal (50.6 %) respectively during their stay at the hospital. Conclusion: The current study found that caregivers were satisfied with the communication provided by health service providers. This suggests that the treatment provided to patients might have better outcome measures. Additionally, it may help to reduce the anxiety among caregivers regarding the patients’ condition.

scholarly journals Gender discrimination as a barrier to high-quality maternal and newborn health care in Nigeria: findings from a cross-sectional quality of care assessment

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chioma Oduenyi ◽  
Joya Banerjee ◽  
Oniyire Adetiloye ◽  
Barbara Rawlins ◽  
Ugo Okoli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Family Planning ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Gender Discrimination ◽  
Newborn Health ◽  
Maternal And Newborn Health ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Care Assessment

Abstract Background Poor reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health outcomes in Nigeria can be attributed to several factors, not limited to low health service coverage, a lack of quality care, and gender inequity. Providers’ gender-discriminatory attitudes, and men’s limited positive involvement correlate with poor utilization and quality of services. We conducted a study at the beginning of a large family planning (FP) and maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health program in Kogi and Ebonyi States of Nigeria to assess whether or not gender plays a role in access to, use of, and delivery of health services. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional, observational, baseline quality of care assessment from April–July 2016 to inform a maternal and newborn health project in health facilities in Ebonyi and Kogi States. We observed 435 antenatal care consultations and 47 births, and interviewed 138 providers about their knowledge, training, experiences, working conditions, gender-sensitive and respectful care, and workplace gender dynamics. The United States Agency for International Development’s Gender Analysis Framework was used to analyze findings. Results Sixty percent of providers disagreed that a woman could choose a family planning method without a male partner’s involvement, and 23.2% of providers disagreed that unmarried clients should use family planning. Ninety-eight percent believed men should participate in health services, yet only 10% encouraged women to bring their partners. Harmful practices were observed in 59.6% of deliveries and disrespectful or abusive practices were observed in 34.0%. No providers offered clients information, services, or referrals for gender-based violence. Sixty-seven percent reported observing or hearing of an incident of violence against clients, and 7.9% of providers experienced violence in the workplace themselves. Over 78% of providers received no training on gender, gender-based violence, or human rights in the past 3 years. Conclusion Addressing gender inequalities that limit women’s access, choice, agency, and autonomy in health services as a quality of care issue is critical to reducing poor health outcomes in Nigeria. Inherent gender discrimination in health service delivery reinforces the critical need for gender analysis, gender responsive approaches, values clarification, and capacity building for service providers.

scholarly journals Perceived quality of surgical care in association with patient-related factors and correlation to reported postoperative complications in Finland: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. e037708
Author(s):  
Ira Helena Saarinen ◽  
Jaana-Maija Koivisto ◽  
Antti Kaipia ◽  
Elina Haavisto
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Postoperative Complications ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Perceived Quality ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Perceived Quality Of Care

ObjectiveTo study if patient-related factors are associated with patient-evaluated quality of care in surgery. To examine if there is an association with postoperative complications and patient-evaluated low quality of care.DesignA correlation cross-sectional study, in addition, a phone call interview at 30 days postoperatively to examine complications.SettingThe data on patients admitted for non-cardiac general and orthopaedic surgery at a central hospital in Southwestern Finland were collected in two phases during an 8-month period.Participants436 consecutive consenting and eligible in-ward non-cardiac general surgery and orthopaedic surgery adult patients. Ambulatory, paediatric and memory disorder patients were excluded. 378 patients completed the questionnaire (Good Nursing Care Scale for Patients (GNCS-P)).MethodsPerceived quality of care was examined by the GNCS-P questionnaire. Patient-related factors were obtained from electronic patient records and questionnaire. A telephone interview related to postdischarge complications was conducted 30 days after discharge.Main outcome measuresPatient evaluation of quality of care at discharge, its association with patient-related factors and patient-reported postdischarge complications.ResultsThe overall quality was evaluated high or very high by the patients. The lowest overall quality of care rate was assessed by surgical patients living alone (p=0.0088) and patients who evaluated their state of health moderate or poor (p=0.0047). Surgical patients reporting postoperative complications after discharge evaluated lower overall quality of care (p=0.0105) than patients with no complications.ConclusionPatient demographic factors do not seem to influence the perceptions of the quality of care. Instead, subjective state of health and living conditions (living alone) may have an influence on the patient experience of quality of care. The perceived quality of care in healthcare staff technical and communication skills may have an association with reported postoperative complications.

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