Early transfer to a rehabilitation hospital for infants with chronic bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
Shortly after being weaned off the respirator, 43 infants with severe chronic bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) were transferred from an intensive-care nursery at a teaching hospital to an affiliated children's rehabilitation hospital in a program that included special staff instruction. Morbidity, measured by rate of transfer back to the acute-care hospital, was lower than in a comparison group of 15 infants treated for severe BPD during the previous two years. Average length of stay was significantly shortened and an average of $60,000 per patient was saved. Using a rehabilitation hospital as a step-down unit shifts the emphasis from acute needs to chronic and developmental needs and from intensive monitoring and nursing care to care given at home by parents with nursing assistance.
Bachrach
S J
SJ
Department of Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA.
Pidcock
F S
FS
Branca
P A
PA
Gilbert
P L
PL
Schneider
A
A
Walko
L
L
McHugh
B
B
D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015143:Philadelphia; D011383:Progressive Patient Care; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*