title: The inpatient AIDS unit: a preliminary empirical investigation of access, economic, and outcome issues.
abstract: An AIDS unit model ("cluster beds") and a general inpatient placement model ("scatter beds") in a major teaching hospital were compared to determine whether they differed on several dimensions of care. After controlling for severity of illness, (the major predictor of admission to the AIDS unit), length of stay, charges, and inpatient mortality rates did not differ between the two settings. Equal proportions of White, Hispanic, male, and privately insured patients were found in both settings. Nursing staff turnover rates were comparable to those of other sites. However, the data raise new issues regarding access to AIDS units for older, Black, and female patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fahs
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fulop
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strain
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Sacks
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Cleary
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schmeidler
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Turner
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D006302:Health Services Research; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000600:supply & distribution; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010563:Personnel Turnover; D012720:Severity of Illness Index