Impact of pediatric cardiac surgery regionalization on health care utilization and mortality.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Regionalization directs patients to high-volume hospitals for specialized care. We investigated regionalization trends and outcomes in pediatric cardiac surgery.

Data sources/study setting

Statewide inpatient data from eleven states between 2000 and 2012.

Study design

Mortality, length of stay (LOS), and cost were assessed using multivariable hierarchical regression with state and year fixed effects. Primary predictor was hospital case-volume, categorized into low-, medium-, and high-volume tertiles.

Data collection/extraction methods

We used Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery-1 (RACHS-1) to select pediatric cardiac surgery discharges.

Principal findings

In total, 2841 (8.5 percent), 8348 (25.1 percent), and 22 099 (66.4 percent) pati

SUBMITTER: Sakai-Bizmark R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6606551 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature