Is organizational change associated with increased rates of readmission to general hospital in suicide attempters? A 10-year prospective catchment area study.
The objective of this study was to examine predictors for readmissions in patients admitted to a general hospital emergency ward for suicide attempts before and after organizational changes potentially affecting the chain of care. Socio-demographic and clinical variables were collected by clinicians from 1997 thru 2007. Data from the periods before and after 2004--when the hospital changed its catchment area--were compared. A substantial increase in readmission rates in the period after the organizational change was observed. This increase was not associated with any of the socio-demographic or clinical patient characteristics. Although no causal connection can be inferred, the observed association between organizational change and readmission rates could indicate that established post-discharge care systems for suicide attempters may be vulnerable to such change.
Mehlum
Lars
L
National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Oslo, Sognsvannsveien 21, Oslo, Norway. lars.mehlum@medisin.uio.no
Jørgensen
Trond
T
Diep
Lien My
LM
Nrugham
Latha
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D005260:Female; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult