The importance of age and other variables in predicting paediatric patient flows in New South Wales.
This research focuses upon the relationship between a child's age and the likelihood that the child was treated at a Specialist Children's Hospital rather than at a local hospital. While it is generally regarded that younger patients are more resource intensive, a study was required to determine whether the Specialist Children's Hospitals attracted younger patients. The analysis is based on 42,363 children treated in Greater Metropolitan Sydney in 1996/97, and on separations classified (role delineated) as non-tertiary DRGs (defined as Level 4 activity). However, this activity is of varying degrees of severity. A number of variables were used to explain why a child was treated at either a local hospital or at a specialist children's hospital. This study clearly demonstrates that Specialist Children's Hospitals do attract younger and more severe patients.
Bridges
J F
JF
City University of New York, Graduate School, New York, USA.
Hanson
R M
RM
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005544:Forecasting; D006302:Health Services Research; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D016015:Logistic Models; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009517:New South Wales