A system-wide approach to explaining variation in potentially avoidable emergency admissions: national ecological study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Some emergency admissions can be avoided if acute exacerbations of health problems are managed by the range of health services providing emergency and urgent care.

Aim

To identify system-wide factors explaining variation in age sex adjusted admission rates for conditions rich in avoidable admissions.

Design

National ecological study.

Setting

152 emergency and urgent care systems in England.

Methods

Hospital Episode Statistics data on emergency admissions were used to calculate an age sex adjusted admission rate for conditions rich in avoidable admissions for each emergency and urgent care system in England for 2008-2011.

Results

There were 3 273 395 relevant admissions in 2008-2011, accounting for 22% of all emergency admissions. The me

SUBMITTER: O'Cathain A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3888597 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature