Amy M J O'Shea1, Spyridon Fortis2, Mary Vaughan Sarrazin3, Jane Moeckli4, W C Yarbrough5, Heather Schacht Reisinger3. 1. Center for Comprehensive Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System, 601 Hwy 6 W, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. Electronic address: amy.oshea@va.gov. 2. Center for Comprehensive Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System, 601 Hwy 6 W, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. 3. Center for Comprehensive Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System, 601 Hwy 6 W, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. 4. Center for Comprehensive Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System, 601 Hwy 6 W, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA. 5. Department Pulmonary/Critical Care, VA North Texas Healthcare System, Dallas, TX, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, U.T. Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate mortality, length of stay, and inter-hospital transfer in the Veteran Health Administration (VHA) among low complexity Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Retrospective study of adult ICU admissions identified in VHA Medical SAS®; 2010-2015 at Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers. Facilities classified by the Rural Urban Commuting Area code algorithm as large rural (referred to as rural) (N = 6) or urban (N = 33). RESULTS: In rural hospitals, patients (N = 9665) were less likely to have a respiratory (12.9% v. 18.9%; p < .001) diagnosis, more likely diagnosed with sepsis (17.6% v. 4.9%), and had a higher illness severity score (42.0 vs. 41.4; p = .01) compared to urban (N = 65,846) counterparts. Mortality within ICU did not vary across facility rurality. In unadjusted analyses, facility rurality (rural vs. urban) was associated with reduced inter-hospital transfers (OR = 0.74; 95% CI = [0.69, 0.80]; p < .001) and a shorter ICU length of stay (RR = 0.82; 95% CI = [0.74, 0.91]; p < .001). This did not hold when the hierarchical data was accounted for. CONCLUSIONS: Despite challenges, low complexity ICUs in rural VA facilities fare similarly to urban counterparts. Being part of a national healthcare system may have benefits to explore in sustaining critical care access in rural areas outside the VA healthcare system. Published by Elsevier Inc.
PURPOSE: To evaluate mortality, length of stay, and inter-hospital transfer in the Veteran Health Administration (VHA) among low complexity Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Retrospective study of adult ICU admissions identified in VHA Medical SAS®; 2010-2015 at Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers. Facilities classified by the Rural Urban Commuting Area code algorithm as large rural (referred to as rural) (N = 6) or urban (N = 33). RESULTS: In rural hospitals, patients (N = 9665) were less likely to have a respiratory (12.9% v. 18.9%; p < .001) diagnosis, more likely diagnosed with sepsis (17.6% v. 4.9%), and had a higher illness severity score (42.0 vs. 41.4; p = .01) compared to urban (N = 65,846) counterparts. Mortality within ICU did not vary across facility rurality. In unadjusted analyses, facility rurality (rural vs. urban) was associated with reduced inter-hospital transfers (OR = 0.74; 95% CI = [0.69, 0.80]; p < .001) and a shorter ICU length of stay (RR = 0.82; 95% CI = [0.74, 0.91]; p < .001). This did not hold when the hierarchical data was accounted for. CONCLUSIONS: Despite challenges, low complexity ICUs in rural VA facilities fare similarly to urban counterparts. Being part of a national healthcare system may have benefits to explore in sustaining critical care access in rural areas outside the VA healthcare system. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Authors: Jennifer M Van Tiem; Heather Schacht Reisinger; Julia E Friberg; Jaime R Wilson; Lynn Fitzwater; Ralph J Panos; Jane Moeckli Journal: BMC Med Res Methodol Date: 2021-02-05 Impact factor: 4.615