title: Can Vertical Integration Reduce Hospital Readmissions? A Difference-in-Differences Approach.
abstract: Vertical integration is expected to improve communication and coordination between inpatient care and care after discharge. Despite being used across health systems worldwide, evidence about its impact on readmissions is sparse and contradictory.
  
  
  
  To assess the impact of vertical integration on hospital readmissions.
  
  
  
  Using difference-in-differences we compared readmissions before and after vertical integration in 6 Portuguese hospitals for years 2004-2013. A control group with 6 similar hospitals not integrated was utilized. Considered outcome was 30-day unplanned readmission. We used logistic regression at the admission level and accounted for patients' risk factors using claims data. Analyses for each hospital and selected conditions were also run.
  
  
  
  Our results suggest that readmissions decreased overall after vertical integration [odds ratio (OR)=0.900; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.812-0.997]. Hospital analysis indicated that there was no impact for 2 hospitals (OR=0.960; 95% CI, 0.848-1.087 and OR=0.944; 95% CI, 0.857-1.038), and a positive effect in 4 hospitals (greatest effect: OR=0.811; 95% CI, 0.736-0.894). A positive evolution was observed for a limited number of conditions, with better results for diabetes with complications (OR=0.689; 95% CI, 0.525-0.904), but no impact regarding congestive heart failure (OR=1.067; 95% CI, 0.827-1.377).
  
  
  
  Merging acute and primary care providers was associated with reduced readmissions, even though improvements were not found for all institutions or condition-specific groups. There are still challenges to be addressed regarding the success of vertical integration in reducing 30-day hospital readmissions.
authors.affiliation: *Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa; Centro de Investigação em Saúde Pública, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa. Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Lisboa, Portugal †Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa. Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Sílvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Óscar B
authors.initials: ÓB
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Ana Patrícia
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moita
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sarmento
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santana
mesh_terms: D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*