title: Outcomes and cost analysis of the impact of unit-level nurse staffing on post-discharg utilization.
abstract: Under a proposal from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, hospitals would no longer be reimbursed for 30-day re-admissions or emergency department (ED) visits. Increasing RN staffing to reduce post-discharge utilization is one possible solution, but one that is not financially attractive to hospitals. This study demonstrates the impact of fluctuating staffing levels on ED visits within 30 days of discharge. RN overtime and RN vacancies also affected subsequent ED visits. It is important for nurse managers, directors, and administrators to recognize the impact of RN staffing on patient outcomes. Reimbursement models will need to be realigned to benefit both hospitals and payers.
authors.affiliation: Marquette University College of Nursing, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Bobay
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yakusheva
authors.forename: Marianne E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000191:economics* / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000191:economics*; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000191:economics*; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms; D012189:Retrospective Studies