Hospital utilization for AIDS: are all hospital days necessary?
This study examined hospital utilization and, specifically, unnecessary hospital days for patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in a Midwest regional referral center as of June 1987. In 1990 a follow-up study was conducted to measure changes in length of stay (LOS) and unnecessary days. Results show a mean LOS consistent with other studies and a pattern of unnecessary days comprising 14% to 18% respectively of the mean LOS. Admissions in which the patient died and those considered outliers (LOS greater than 36 days) had a trend toward a higher percentage of unnecessary days. Hospital utilization and unnecessary days for patients with AIDS should be an ongoing quality indicator for hospitals experiencing a high volume of persons with AIDS admissions.
Sharp
J W
JW
Social Work Department, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195-5195.
Coleman
E
E
Starling
N
N
Cline
J
J
Rehm
S J
SJ
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000191:economics*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007350:Insurance, Hospitalization; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009820:Ohio; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000379:methods*