Interhospital transfer among US veterans admitted to community and veterans affairs hospitals for acute myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Veterans Health Administration (VHA) enrollees may use community hospitals for inpatient care and sometimes require transfer to larger community or VHA hospitals. Little is known about interhospital transfer patterns among veterans using community and VHA hospitals or how coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case surges affected transfer.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study among veterans age 65+ admitted to community and VHA hospitals for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or acute ischemic stroke (AIS) during 2018-2021. We examined associations between COVID-19 case density in regional hospital referral networks and the likelihood of transfer.

Results

A total of 8373 (23.6%) veterans with AMI and 4630 (13.1%) with AIS were transferred in the prepandemic peri

SUBMITTER: Vaughan-Sarrazin MS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11797533 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature