Governmental designation of spine specialty hospitals, their characteristics, performance and designation effects: a longitudinal study in Korea.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

This study compares the characteristics and performance of spine specialty hospitals versus other types of hospitals for inpatients with spinal diseases in South Korea. We also assessed the effect of the government's specialty hospital designation on hospital operating efficiency.

Setting

We used data of 823 hospitals including 17 spine specialty hospitals in Korea.

Participants

All spine disease-related inpatient claims nationwide (N=645 449) during 2010-2012.

Interventions

No interventions were made.

Outcome measures

Using a multilevel generalised estimating equation and multilevel modelling, this study compared inpatient charges, length of stay (LOS), readmission within 30 days of discharge and in-hospital death within 30 days of admission

SUBMITTER: Kim SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4244398 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature