title: Factors influencing the costs of emergency medical admissions to an Irish teaching hospital.
abstract: This study examined whether there is a relationship between coded diseases at the time of hospital discharge and costs of hospital re-admission. We carried out a systematic review of data relating to emergency medical patients admitted to St. James' Hospital in Dublin between 1 January 2002 and 31 October 2004. Data on discharges from hospital were analyzed as recorded in the hospital in-patient enquiry (HIPE) system. Of 15,876 episodes recorded among 11,201 patients admitted the number of re-admissions numbered up to 43. Age, year of admission, and frequency of admission were factors associated with increased hospital costs. HIPE coding at first discharge predicted increased costs: codes related to heart failure, pneumonia, stroke, diabetes, malignancy, psychiatric, and anaemia-related codes. Clinical coding using the HIPE database thus strongly predicted hospital costs.
authors.affiliation: Trinity Centre at St. James' Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Edward D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Moloney
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Silke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007494:Ireland; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged