The association between hospital volume and processes, outcomes, and costs of care for congestive heart failure.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is common and costly, and outcomes remain suboptimal despite pharmacologic and technical advances.

Objective

To examine whether hospitals with more experience in caring for patients with CHF provide better, more efficient care.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

4095 hospitals in the United States.

Patients

Medicare fee-for-service patients with a primary discharge diagnosis of CHF.

Measurements

Hospital Quality Alliance CHF process measures; 30-day, risk-adjusted mortality rates; 30-day, risk-adjusted readmission rates; and costs per discharge. National Medicare claims data from 2006 to 2007 were used to examine the relationship between hospital case volume and quality, outcomes, and costs for pat

SUBMITTER: Joynt KE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3336194 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature