Utilization and outcomes of inpatient surgical care at critical access hospitals in the United States.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

There is a growing interest in the quality and cost of care provided at Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), a predominant source of care for many rural populations in the United States.

Objective

To evaluate utilization, outcomes, and costs of inpatient surgery performed at CAHs.

Design, setting, and patients

A retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing inpatient surgery from 2005 through 2009 at CAHs or non-CAHs was performed using data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample and American Hospital Association.

Exposure

The CAH status of the admitting hospital.

Main outcomes and measures

In-hospital mortality, prolonged length of stay, and total hospital costs.

Results

Among the 1283 CAHs and 3612 non-CAHs reporting to the American Ho

SUBMITTER: Gadzinski AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3918670 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature