title: Differences in patient mix: a partial explantation for the excessive Medicare mortality observed in some Puerto Rican hospitals.
abstract: Data from a census in a Puerto Rican community were used to retrospectively compare patients admitted to government hospitals in terms of demographic variables, mental status and functional status in the community prior to admission. A total of 268 patients admitted to a hospital at least once during the study period were identified. Patients admitted to government hospitals were poorer, less educated, less functional and had a higher level of mental impairment. However, in comparison to private hospitals, stratified analysis showed consistently higher in-hospital mortality rates among patients admitted to government hospitals when other variables were taken into account.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, Gurabo.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: De Andino
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Conde
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mendoza
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006768:Hospitals, Federal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016304:Hospitals, Private / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009026:Mortality; D011647:Puerto Rico; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States