Identifying priorities for primary care investment in Ireland through a population-based analysis of avoidable hospital admissions for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSC).

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:In 2016, the Irish acute hospital system operated well above internationally recommended occupancy targets. Investment in primary care can prevent hospital admissions of ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs). OBJECTIVE:To measure the impact of ACSCs on acute hospital capacity in the Irish public system and identify specific care areas for enhanced primary care provision. DESIGN:National Hospital In-patient Enquiry System data were used to calculate 2011-2016 standardised bed day rates for selected ACSC conditions. A prioritisation exercise was undertaken to identify the most significant contributors to bed days within our hospital system. Poisson regression was used to determine change over time using incidence rate ratios (IRR). RESULTS:In 2016 ACSCs accounted for almost

SUBMITTER: McDarby G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6858209 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature