Use of prolonged travel to improve pediatric risk-adjustment models.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine whether travel variables could explain previously reported differences in lengths of stay (LOS), readmission, or death at children's hospitals versus other hospital types.

Data source

Hospital discharge data from Pennsylvania between 1996 and 1998.

Study design

A population cohort of children aged 1-17 years with one of 19 common pediatric conditions was created (N=51,855). Regression models were constructed to determine difference for LOS, readmission, or death between children's hospitals and other types of hospitals after including five types of additional illness severity variables to a traditional risk-adjustment model.

Principal findings

With the traditional risk-adjustment model, children traveling longer to children's or rural hos

SUBMITTER: Lorch SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2677052 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature