Length of stay and hospital readmission for persons with disabilities.
OBJECTIVE
Length of stay (LOS) and hospital readmission for persons receiving medical rehabilitation were examined.


METHODS
A total of 96,473 patient records (1994-1998) were analyzed. Mean age of patients was 68.97 years; 61% were female and 83% were non-Hispanic White.


RESULTS
A decrease in LOS of 6.07 days (SD = 3.23) and increase in hospital readmission were found across all impairment groups (P < .001). Readmission increases ranged from 6.7% for amputations to 1.4% for orthopedic conditions. LOS was longer (2.1 days) for readmitted patients (P < .01). Age was not a significant predictor of rehospitalization.


CONCLUSIONS
Understanding variables associated with rehospitalization is important as prospective payment systems are introduced for postacute care.
Ottenbacher
K J
KJ
University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555-1028, USA. kottenba@utmb.edu
Smith
P M
PM
Illig
S B
SB
Fiedler
R C
RC
Granger
C V
CV
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D014487:Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000145:classification; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012042:Registries; D014481:United States