Abstract
We examined the pattern of hospital stay in a pediatric division of a major teaching medical center in terms of justification of the hospital stay. Hospital stay days of all children admitted during 3 consecutive weeks were assessed prospectively according to predetermined criteria. Of the 2,048 hospital stay days 26% were unjustified, primarily due to unnecessary in-hospital follow-up and diagnostic evaluation that should have been carried out on an ambulatory basis. Logistic regression analysis revealed that neurological disorders and trauma, age younger than 3 years, specific ward, and the attending physician were significant predictors for unjustified hospital stay days. This method is proposed as a means for optimal reduction of redundant hospital stay and concomitant unnecessary economic burden.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 33-36 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Israel Journal of Medical Sciences |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| State | Published - 1993 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Criteria
- Health policy
- Hospital stay days
- Pediatric hospitalization
