BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to evaluate the rate and the reasons for inappropriate hospital use in a medical Short Stay Unit (SSU) in comparison with conventional hospitalization. PATIENTS AND METHOD: The Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol was applied to 352 patients admitted in the SSU and to 203 patients admitted in a department of internal medicine (control group). RESULTS: The rates of inappropriate hospital admissions (0.6% vs 3%; p = 0.023) and stays (6.9% vs 18.7%; p < 0.001) were significantly lower in the SSU with respect to the control group. Main causes of inappropriateness were also lower: conservative physician's attitude (9.4% vs 41.4%; p = 0.001), delay in diagnostic procedures (3.4% vs 11.3%; p < 0.001), and social and familiar factors (2.8% vs 9.4%; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A SSU is useful for the appropriateness of hospital use, due to its capacity to minimize the number and causes of inappropriate stays.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to evaluate the rate and the reasons for inappropriate hospital use in a medical Short Stay Unit (SSU) in comparison with conventional hospitalization. PATIENTS AND METHOD: The Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol was applied to 352 patients admitted in the SSU and to 203 patients admitted in a department of internal medicine (control group). RESULTS: The rates of inappropriate hospital admissions (0.6% vs 3%; p = 0.023) and stays (6.9% vs 18.7%; p < 0.001) were significantly lower in the SSU with respect to the control group. Main causes of inappropriateness were also lower: conservative physician's attitude (9.4% vs 41.4%; p = 0.001), delay in diagnostic procedures (3.4% vs 11.3%; p < 0.001), and social and familiar factors (2.8% vs 9.4%; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A SSU is useful for the appropriateness of hospital use, due to its capacity to minimize the number and causes of inappropriate stays.
Authors: Manuel Quintana-Díaz; Raúl Muñoz-Romo; Susana Gómez-Ramírez; José Pavía; Alberto M Borobia; José A García-Erce; Manuel Muñoz Journal: Blood Transfus Date: 2017-01-24 Impact factor: 3.443
Authors: Gianfranco Damiani; Luigi Pinnarelli; Lorenzo Sommella; Valentina Vena; Patrizia Magrini; Walter Ricciardi Journal: Med Sci Monit Date: 2011-06
Authors: Sonia Tamames; Alberto Perez Rubio; Javier Castrodeza Sanz; Maria Belen Canton Alvarez; Francisco J Luquero; Sara Santos Sanz; Placido Lopez Encinar; Maria Paz de la Torre Pardo; Juan Manuel Gil Gonzalez Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2007-11-19 Impact factor: 2.655