title: Hospital length of stay, discharge disposition, and reimbursement by clinical program group in pediatric post-acute rehabilitation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe hospital length of stay (LOS), discharge disposition, and reimbursement by clinical group for children admitted to pediatric post-acute rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographic and financial information for all admissions (n=382) for calendar years 2010 and 2011 were combined. Clinical groups (Active Rehabilitation, Medically Complex, Ventilator Dependent, Neonates) were delineated and compared by LOS, discharge disposition, and per diem and per admission reimbursement, as well as by age, gender, admission number, and payer using descriptives, chi-square, or analysis of variance. LOS, discharge disposition, and reimbursement were also examined by payer and/or admission number.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical groups differed by LOS (p=0.008), discharge disposition (p < 0.001), age (p < 0.001), admission number (p < 0.001), and payer (p < 0.001). Although per diem reimbursement was not statistically significant between groups, total admission reimbursement was highest for the Ventilator group due to a significantly longer LOS (mean=57.78 days, SD=56.33, p=0.008). LOS nor discharge disposition was significantly different if the payer was public or private. Children were more likely discharged home from a first admission (r=0.321, p < 0.001) than a subsequent admission, and private payers had a significantly greater (p< 0.001) mean daily reimbursement rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hospital LOS, discharge disposition, and reimbursement vary by clinical group in pediatric post-acute rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Franciscan Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Jane E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Helene M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Dumas
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018588:Fee-for-Service Plans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000639:trends*; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*