The effect of adverse medical events on spending on inpatient care.
BACKGROUND
In this study, we examined the proposition that the occurrence of adverse medical events (AMEs) increases spending on inpatient hospital care.


METHODS
Employing the individual and the episode of care as the unit of analysis, the study relied on data assembled in the Public Use Data File maintained by the Oklahoma State Department of Health. Multiple regression analyses were used to examine the covariates of the revenue per case and its components, the average revenue per day, and the number of days per case.


RESULTS
The results indicate that the occurrence of AMEs would increase the revenue per case, the days of care per case, and the revenue per day.


CONCLUSIONS
Study findings suggest that a decline in AMEs improves quality while lowering spending on hospital care and the use of inpatient services.
Broyles
Robert W
RW
Departments of Health Administration and Policy, College of Public Health, and College of Medicine, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
Chou
Ann F
AF
Mattachione
Steve
S
Wild
Robert C
RC
Al-Assaf
A F
AF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000191:economics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009825:Oklahoma; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000191:economics; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013219:State Government; D055815:Young Adult