Assessment of the effect of a comprehensive diabetes management program on hospital admission rates of children with diabetes mellitus.
Admission records at Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati were reviewed to determine the impact of a comprehensive diabetes management program on selected indicators of health status in children with diabetes mellitus. Two periods were compared: January 1973 through June 1978 (period A), prior to institution of the program, and July 1978 through December 1987 (period B). Although the number of children admitted with a diagnosis of type I diabetes not associated with DKA or other diagnoses increased by 10% during these 10 years, the number of children with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) not associated with other diagnoses fell from 58% in period A to 24% in period B. Similarly, average length of stay for the reported DKA admissions decreased from a mean of 5.84 days in period A to a mean of 4.62 days in period B. This reduction of 1.2 days saved an estimated $342,000 in hospitalization costs. These findings suggest that a comprehensive diabetes management program consisting of medical treatment, education, and psychological support services, has a positive influence on patient outcome and can be cost effective.
Drozda
D J
DJ
Dawson
V A
VA
Long
D J
DJ
Freson
L S
LS
Sperling
M A
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000451:nursing / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009820:Ohio; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D015397:Program Evaluation