State-level child health system performance and the likelihood of readmission to children's hospitals

Distinguishing Children's Hospitals From Non-Children's Hospitals in Large Claims Data

BACKGROUND

The first methodologic step needed to compare pediatric health outcomes at children's hospitals (CHs) and non-children's hospitals (NCHs) is to classify hospitals into CH and NCH categories. However, there are currently no standardized or validated methods for classifying hospitals. The purpose of this study was to describe a novel and reproducible hospital classification methodology.

METHODS

By using data from the 2015 American Hospital Association survey, 4464 hospitals were classified into 4 categories (tiers A-D) on the basis of self-reported presence of pediatric services. Tier A included hospitals that only provided care to children. Tier B included hospitals that had key pediatric services, including pediatric emergency departments, PICUs, and NICUs. Tier C included hospitals that provided limited pediatric services. Tier D hospitals provided no key pediatric services. Classifications were then validated by using publicly available data on hospital membership in various pediatric programs as well as Health Care Cost Institute claims data.

RESULTS

Fifty-one hospitals were classified as tier A, 228 as tier B, 1721 as tier C, and 1728 as tier D. The majority of tier A hospitals were members of the Children's Hospital Association, Children's Oncology Group, and National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric. By using claims data, the percentage of admissions that were pediatric was highest in tier A (88.9%), followed by tiers B (10.9%), C (3.9%), and D (3.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

Using American Hospital Association survey data is a feasible and valid method for classifying hospitals into CH and NCH categories by using a reproducible multitiered system.

The Association Between Cardiac Biomarker NT-proBNP and 30-Day Readmission or Mortality After Pediatric Congenital Heart Surgery

BACKGROUND

Very little is known about clinical and biomarker predictors of readmissions following pediatric congenital heart surgery. The cardiac biomarker N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) can help predict readmission in adult populations, but the estimated utility in predicting risk of readmission or mortality after pediatric congenital heart surgery has not previously been studied. Our objective was to evaluate the association between pre- and postoperative serum biomarker levels and 30-day readmission or mortality for pediatric patients undergoing congenital heart surgery.

METHODS

We measured pre- and postoperative NT-proBNP levels in two prospective cohorts of 522 pediatric patients <18 years of age who underwent at least one congenital heart operation from 2010 to 2014. Blood samples were collected before and after surgery. We evaluated the association between pre- and postoperative NT-proBNP with readmission or mortality within 30 days of discharge, using multivariate logistic regression, adjusting for covariates based on the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Congenital Heart Surgery Mortality Risk Model.

RESULTS

The Johns Hopkins Children's Center cohort and the Translational Research Investigating Biomarker Endpoints in Acute Kidney Injury (TRIBE-AKI) cohort demonstrate event rates of 12.9% and 9.4%, respectively, for the composite end point. After adjustment for covariates in the STS congenital risk model, we did not find an association between elevated levels of NT-proBNP and increased risk of readmission or mortality following congenital heart surgery for either cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

In our two cohorts, preoperative and postoperative values of NT-proBNP were not significantly associated with readmission or mortality following pediatric congenital heart surgery. These findings will inform future studies evaluating multimarker risk assessment models in the pediatric population.

Pediatric acquired demyelinating syndrome (ADS) in inpatient hospital settings: The hospitalization rate, costs, and outcomes in the US

BACKGROUND

Although relatively rare among pediatric patients, acquired demyelinating syndromes of the central nervous system (ADS) is a potentially disabling condition that warrants hospitalization and long-term follow-up. As such, a better understanding of the epidemiology and hospital utilization for this condition could provide critical information for health care planning and resource allocation.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the trends of hospital utilization and resource use associated with pediatric ADS in the US.

METHOD

We conducted a serial cross-sectional trend analysis with complex sampling and weighting using nationally representative hospital discharge records, from the Kids´ Inpatient Database (KID), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality coded with International Classification of Diseases (Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) 2018), Ninth Revision (ICD-9-CM) for the years 2003, 2006, 2009, and 2012. We also conducted a cross-sectional study for the KID2016 dataset coded with ICD10-CM to estimate the pediatric ADS-related hospital utilization for the year. EXCLUDING TRANSFERRING DISCHARGES: we evaluated the discharge records for those aged 0 to 19 years diagnosed with any of ADS of central nervous systems including multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), optic neuritis (ON), transverse myelitis (TM) and demyelinating disease not specified (DDNS). For the trend analysis, we used variance-weighted regression and Poisson regression for the annual hospitalization rate, total hospital charges and hospital days associated with the ADS hospitalizations for the year 2003 to 2012.

RESULTS

We estimated a total of 1,292 ADS-related hospitalizations (95%CI: 1127-1,458) in 2003, 2104 hospitalizations (95%CI: 1823-2385) in 2006, 2851 hospitalizations (95%CI: 2499-3203) in 2009, and 3501 hospitalizations (95%CI: 3058-3945) in 2012 among those aged 19 years or younger with diagnoses of ADS. There was an increase in the proportion of the inpatient hospital cost attributed to ADS from 0.06% in 2003 to 0.20% in 2012. The annual hospitalization rates relative to pediatric ADS were 1.59/100,000 (95%CI: 1.51-1.68) in 2003 and 4.21/100,000 (95%CI: 4.07-4.35) in 2012. In the cross-sectional analysis for the year 2016 coded by ICD10-CM, the number of pediatric ADS related hospitalizations were 4,568, constituting 0.30% of the total pediatric hospitalization cost. The annual hospitalization rate for the year 2016 was estimated to be 5.51/100,000.

CONCLUSION

Hospital utilization by pediatric patients with ADS increased during the period 2003 through 2012. The cross-sectional analysis for the year 2016 indicated that the trend could be ongoing, although the direct comparison was not feasible due to the changes in the coding system of the dataset from ICD9-CM to ICD10-CM. Although relatively rare, pediatric ADS warrant long-term follow-ups and hospitalizations, impacting the developmental trajectory of the affected children and the lives of their family members. Th potentially increasing trend of pediatric ADS hospital utilization should be acknowledged when allocating and planning future resources and supporting programs.

Readmission within 30 days of discharge (ReAd): a quality-of-care indicator in paediatric surgery

PURPOSE

Following a previously published 1 year audit of readmissions, this is a reaudit of our readmission rate (ReAd) in paediatric surgery, asking: is ReAd reproducible, can it be an indicator of quality of care in paediatric surgery, and can it be improved?

METHOD

Prospectively collected Hospital Episode statistics were used to identify readmissions over 1 year. Patients were subdivided into emergency vs elective regarding the first admission and outcomes compared including with our previously published ReAd data.

RESULTS

2616 children (67% male) were admitted during 2016: 1398 (53%) elective and 1218 (47%) emergency admissions. The overall ReAd was 0.9%, comparable to and lower than our previously published rate of 2%. The commonest cause for readmission was appendicitis-related (22%). The emergency cohort ReAd was 1.5% (18/1218) compared to 0.4% (5/1398) in the elective cohort, 4× higher (p = 0.002). In the emergency cohort, the commonest causes for readmission were abdominal pain and perforated appendicitis. 80% of elective group readmissions were related to urological procedures. More of these required surgical intervention to treat (80% vs 22%) (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

(1) ReAd is a reproducible and reducible quality-of-care indicator in paediatric surgery. (2) Emergency admission is a risk factor for readmission. (3) Appendicectomy was associated with the highest ReAd.

Biomarkers associated with 30-day readmission and mortality after pediatric congenital heart surgery

OBJECTIVES

Novel cardiac biomarkers serum (suppression of tumorigenicity [ST2]) and Galectin-3 may be associated with an increased likelihood of important events after cardiac surgery. Our objective was to explore the association between pre- and postoperative serum biomarker levels and 30-day readmission or mortality for pediatric patients.

METHODS

We prospectively enrolled pediatric patients <18 years of age who underwent at least one cardiac surgical operation at Johns Hopkins Children's Center from 2010 to 2014 (N = 162). Blood samples were collected immediately before surgery and at the end of bypass. We evaluated the association between pre- and postoperative Galectin-3 and ST2 with 30-day readmission or mortality, using backward stepwise logistic regression, adjusting for covariates based on the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Congenital Heart Surgery Mortality Risk Model.

RESULTS

In our cohort, 21 (12.9%) patients experienced readmission or mortality 30-days from discharge. Before adjustment, preoperative ST2 terciles demonstrated a strong association with readmission and/or mortality after surgery (OR: 2.58; 95% CI: 1.17-3.66 and OR: 4.37; 95% CI: 1.31-14.57). After adjustment for covariates based on the STS congenital risk model, Galectin-3 postoperative mid-tercile was significantly associated with 30-day readmission or mortality (OR: 6.17; 95% CI: 1.50-0.43) as was the highest tercile of postoperative ST2 (OR: 4.98; 95% CI: 1.06-23.32).

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated pre-and postoperative levels of ST2 and Galectin-3 are associated with increased risk of readmission or mortality after pediatric heart surgery. These clinically available biomarkers can be used for improved risk stratification and may guide improved patient care management.

Perceived Access to Outpatient Care and Hospital Reutilization Following Acute Respiratory Illnesses

OBJECTIVE

Efforts to decrease hospital revisits often focus on improving access to outpatient follow-up. Our objective was to assess the relationship between perceived access to timely office-based care and subsequent 30-day revisits following hospital discharge for 4 common respiratory illnesses.

METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study of children 2 weeks to 16years admitted to 5 US children's hospitals for asthma, bronchiolitis, croup, or pneumonia between July 2014 and June 2016. Hospital and emergency department (ED) (in the case of croup) admission surveys administered to caregivers included the Consumer Assessments of Healthcare Providers and Systems Timely Access to Care. Access composite scores (range 0-100, with greater scores indicating better access) were linked with 30-day ED revisits and inpatient readmissions from the Pediatric Health Information System. The relationship between access to timely care and repeat utilization was assessed using multivariable logistic regression adjusting for demographics, hospitalization, and home/outpatient factors.

RESULTS

Of the 2438 children enrolled, 2179 (89%) reported an office visit in the previous 6 months. Average access composite score was 52.0 (standard deviation, 36.3). In adjusted analyses, greater access scores were associated with greater odds of 30-day ED revisits (odds ratio [OR] = 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.13)-particularly for croup (OR = 1.17; 95% CI, 1.02-1.36)-but not inpatient readmissions (OR = 1.02; 95% CI, 0.96-1.09).

CONCLUSIONS

Perceived access to timely office-based care was associated with significantly greater odds of subsequent ED revisit. Focusing solely on enhancing timely access to care following discharge for common respiratory illnesses may be insufficient to prevent repeat utilization.

Annual Report on Health Care for Children and Youth in the United States: Focus on 30-Day Unplanned Inpatient Readmissions, 2009 to 2014

OBJECTIVE

To describe trends in unplanned 30-day all-condition hospital readmissions for children aged 1 to 17 years between 2009 and 2014.

METHODS

Analysis was conducted with the 2009-14 Nationwide Readmissions Database from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. Annual hospital readmission rates, resource use, and the most common reasons for readmission were calculated for the 2009-14 period.

RESULTS

The rate of readmission for children aged 1 to 17 years was essentially stable between 2009 and 2014 (5.5% in 2009 and 5.9% in 2014). In 2009, the most common reason (principal diagnosis) for readmission was sickle cell anemia, whereas in 2014 the most common reason was epilepsy. Pneumonia fell from the second to the sixth most common reason for readmission over this period (from 3832 to 2418 stays). Other respiratory infections were among the top 10 principal readmission diagnoses in 2009, but not in 2014. Septicemia was among the 10 most common reasons for readmission in 2014, but not in 2009. Although the average cost of index (ie, initial) stays with a subsequent readmission were similar in 2009 and 2014, the average cost of index stays without a readmission and cost of readmission stays increased by approximately 23%. In both 2009 and 2014, the average cost of the index stays with a subsequent readmission was 73% to 89% higher than that of the index stays of children who were not readmitted within 30 days. The average cost of index stays preceding a readmission was 33% to 45% higher than average costs for readmitted stays. In 2014, the aggregate cost of index stays plus readmissions was $1.58 billion, with 42.9% of the costs attributable to readmissions. Regarding the average costs and lengths of stay for the 10 most common readmission diagnoses, in 2009 the average cost per stay for complications of devices, implants, or grafts was nearly 5 times greater than that of asthma ($21,200 vs $4500, respectively). In 2014, average cost per stay ranged from $5500 for asthma to $39,500 for septicemia. In 2009, the average length of stay (LOS) for complications of devices, implants, or grafts was more than 3 three times higher than that for asthma (7.8 days vs 2.5 days, respectively), and in 2014, the average LOS for septicemia was nearly 4 times higher than that for asthma (10.4 days vs. 2.6 days).

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides a baseline assessment for examining trends in 30-day unplanned pediatric readmissions, an important quality metric as the provisions of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act and the Affordable Care Act are changed and implemented in the future. More than 50,000 pediatric hospital stays in 2014 occurred within 30 days of a previous hospitalization, with an average cost of $13,800. This report is timely, as the health care system works to become more patient-centered and public and private payers grapple with how to pay for quality care for children. The report provides baseline information that can be used to further explore ways to reduce unplanned readmissions.

Postdischarge Nurse Home Visits and Reuse: The Hospital to Home Outcomes (H2O) Trial

BACKGROUND

Hospital discharge is stressful for children and families. Poor transitional care is linked to unplanned health care reuse. We evaluated the effects of a pediatric transition intervention, specifically a single nurse home visit, on postdischarge outcomes in a randomized controlled trial.

METHODS

We randomly assigned 1500 children hospitalized on hospital medicine, neurology services, or neurosurgery services to receive either a single postdischarge nurse-led home visit or no visit. We excluded children discharged with skilled home nursing services. Primary outcomes included 30-day unplanned, urgent health care reuse (composite measure of unplanned readmission, emergency department, or urgent care visit). Secondary outcomes, measured at 14 days, included postdischarge parental coping, number of days until parent-reported return to normal routine, and number of "red flags" or clinical warning signs a parent or caregiver could recall.

RESULTS

The 30-day reuse rate was 17.8% in the intervention group and 14.0% in the control group. In the intention-to-treat analysis, children randomly assigned to the intervention group had higher odds of 30-day health care use (odds ratio: 1.33; 95% confidence interval: 1.003-1.76). In the per protocol analysis, there were no differences in 30-day health care use (odds ratio: 1.14; confidence interval: 0.84-1.55). Postdischarge coping scores and number of days until returning to a normal routine were similar between groups. Parents in the intervention group recalled more red flags at 14 days (mean: 1.9 vs 1.6; P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Children randomly assigned to the intervention had higher rates of 30-day postdischarge unplanned health care reuse. Parents in the intervention group recalled more clinical warning signs 2 weeks after discharge.

Adding Social Determinant Data Changes Children's Hospitals' Readmissions Performance

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether social determinants of health (SDH) risk adjustment changes hospital-level performance on the 30-day Pediatric All-Condition Readmission (PACR) measure and improves fit and accuracy of discharge-level models.

STUDY DESIGN

We performed a retrospective cohort study of all hospital discharges meeting criteria for the PACR from 47 hospitals in the Pediatric Health Information database from January to December 2014. We built four nested regression models by sequentially adding risk adjustment factors as follows: chronic condition indicators (CCIs); PACR patient factors (age and sex); electronic health record-derived SDH (race, ethnicity, payer), and zip code-linked SDH (families below poverty level, vacant housing units, adults without a high school diploma, single-parent households, median household income, unemployment rate). For each model, we measured the change in hospitals' readmission decile-rank and assessed model fit and accuracy.

RESULTS

For the 458 686 discharges meeting PACR inclusion criteria, in multivariable models, factors associated with higher discharge-level PACR measure included age <1 year, female sex, 1 of 17 CCIs, higher CCI count, Medicaid insurance, higher median household income, and higher percentage of single-parent households. Adjustment for SDH made small but significant improvements in fit and accuracy of discharge-level PACR models, with larger effect at the hospital level, changing decile-rank for 17 of 47 hospitals.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that risk adjustment for SDH changed hospitals' readmissions rate rank order. Hospital-level changes in relative readmissions performance can have considerable financial implications; thus, for pay for performance measures calculated at the hospital level, and for research associated therewith, our findings support the inclusion of SDH variables in risk adjustment.

Do all-cause revisit rates reflect the quality of pediatric surgical care provided during index encounters?

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to compare the relatedness of revisits to the index surgical encounter across different pediatric surgical procedures and to explore whether all-cause revisit rates are an accurate surrogate measure for related revisits in this cohort of children.

METHODS

We reviewed all-cause revisits occurring within ninety days of the thirty most commonly performed pediatric surgical procedures at 44 children's hospitals between 1/1/2012 and 3/31/2015. For each condition, a team of four surgeons reviewed revisit diagnoses and reached consensus around relatedness to the index surgical encounter. Chi-squared tests were used to test for variation in all-cause and related revisits among procedures. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to measure the association between rankings of procedures by their all-cause and related revisit rates.

RESULTS

144,535 index encounters were analyzed with an overall revisit rate of 15.0% (21,732). Significant variation was found in both the rates of all-cause revisits among procedures (ranges: 7.6-68.4%, p<0.0001), and in the relative proportions of revisits related the index surgical encounter (range: 0% to 77%, p<0.0001). Poor correlation was found between procedure rankings based on all-cause revisit rates and revisit rates related to the index admission (r=0.33, p=0.07).

CONCLUSIONS

The relative proportion of revisits related to the index encounter varies significantly across pediatric surgical conditions, and poor correlation exists at the procedure-level between all-cause and related revisits rates.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Children's Hospital Characteristics and Readmission Metrics

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Like their adult counterparts, pediatric hospitals are increasingly at risk for financial penalties based on readmissions. Limited information is available on how the composition of a hospital's patient population affects performance on this metric and hence affects reimbursement for hospitals providing pediatric care. We sought to determine whether applying different readmission metrics differentially affects hospital performance based on the characteristics of patients a hospital serves.

METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 64 children's hospitals from the Children's Hospital Association Case Mix Comparative Database 2012 and 2013. We calculated 30-day observed-to-expected readmission ratios by using both all-cause (AC) and Potentially Preventable Readmissions (PPR) metrics. We examined the association between observed-to-expected rates and hospital characteristics by using multivariable linear regression.

RESULTS

We examined a total of 1 416 716 hospitalizations. The mean AC 30-day readmission rate was 11.3% (range 4.3%-19.6%); the mean PPR rate was 4.9% (range 2.9%-6.9%). The average 30-day AC observed-to-expected ratio was 0.96 (range 0.63-1.23), compared with 0.95 (range 0.65-1.23) for PPR; 59% of hospitals performed better than expected on both measures. Hospitals with higher volumes, lower percentages of infants, and higher percentage of patients with low income performed worse than expected on PPR.

CONCLUSIONS

High-volume hospitals, those that serve fewer infants, and those with a high percentage of patients from low-income neighborhoods have higher than expected PPR rates and are at higher risk of reimbursement penalties.

The Effect of Limited English Proficiency on Pediatric Hospital Readmissions

BACKGROUND

The relationship between limited English proficiency (LEP) and worse pediatric health outcomes is well documented.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the relationship between LEP status and pediatric hospital readmissions.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of children ≤ 18 years old admitted to a tertiary children's hospital from 2008 to 2014. The main exposure was LEP status. Independent variables included sex, age, race/ethnicity, insurance, median household income, surgical/medical status, severity of illness (SOI), the presence of a complex chronic condition, and length of stay. Primary outcome measures were 7- and 30-day readmission.

RESULTS

From 67 473 encounters, 7- and 30-day readmission rates were 3.9% and 8.2%, respectively. LEP patients were more likely to be younger, poorer, and Hispanic; have lower SOI; and government-subsidized insurance. Adjusted odds for 7- or 30-day readmission for LEP versus English-proficient (EP) patients were 1.00 (P = .99) and 0.97 (P = .60), respectively. Hispanic ethnicity (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.26 [P = .002] and 1.14 [P = .02]), greater SOI (aOR: 1.04 [P < .001] and 1.05 [P < .001]), and the presence of a complex chronic condition (aOR: 2.31 [P < .001] and 3.03 [P < .001]) were associated with increased odds of 7- and 30-day readmission, respectively. White LEP patients had increased odds of 7- and 30-day readmission compared with white EP patients (aOR: 1.46 [P = .006] and 1.32 [P = .007]) and the poorest LEP patients had increased odds of 7- and 30-day readmission compared with the poorest EP patients (aOR: 1.77 [P = .04] and 2.00 [P < .001]).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first large study evaluating the relationship between LEP and pediatric hospital readmission. There was no increased risk of readmission in LEP patients compared with EP patients.

Discharge Handoff Communication and Pediatric Readmissions

BACKGROUND

Improvement in hospital transitional care has become a major national priority, although the impact on children's postdischarge outcomes is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize common handoff practices between hospital and primary care providers (PCPs), and test the hypothesis that common handoff practices would be associated with fewer unplanned readmissions.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS

This prospective cohort study enrolled randomly selected pediatric patients during an acute hospitalization at a tertiary children's hospital in 2012-2014.

MEASUREMENTS

Primary care and patient data were abstracted from administrative, caregiver, and PCP questionnaires on admission through 30 days postdischarge. The primary outcome was 30-day unplanned readmission to any hospital. Logistic regression assessed relationships between readmissions and 11 handoff communication practices.

RESULTS

We enrolled 701 children, from which 685 identified PCPs. Complete data were collected from 84% of PCPs. Communication practices varied widely--verbal handoffs occurred rarely (10.7%); PCP notification of admission occurred for 50.8%. Caregiver experience scores, using an adapted Care Transitions Measure-3, were high but were unrelated to readmissions. Thirty-day unplanned readmissions to any hospital were unrelated to most handoff practices. Having PCP follow-up appointments scheduled prior to discharge was associated with more readmissions (adjusted odds ratio, 2.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-4.46).

CONCLUSION

Despite their presumed value, common handoff practices between hospital providers and PCPs may not lead to reductions in postdischarge utilization for children. Addressing broader constructs like caregiver self-efficacy or social determinants is likely necessary. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2017;12:29-35.

Return to the System Within 30 Days of Discharge after Pediatric Appendectomy

Postprocedural revisits, readmissions, and reoperations are commonly tracked quality metrics and have reimbursement and hospital-level comparison implications. Our purpose was to document these rates after pediatric appendectomy and to identify patient factors related to these metrics. This study included 3756 appendectomies performed at a single institution from 2009 to 2013. Data were prospectively collected and clinical events within 30 days of discharge were analyzed. Regression models identified factors associated with each metric. There were 328 returns to the emergency department (8.7%), 128 readmissions (3.4%), and 41 reoperations (1.0%). The main source of readmission was the emergency department (n = 118, 92%). Nearly two-thirds of readmissions were nonoperative (n = 87, 68%) and 12.5 per cent of readmissions were not related to the index appendectomy. Factors associated with readmission include procedure length >70 minutes [odds ratio (OR) 1.89, P = 0.043] and failed nonoperative management of perforated appendicitis (OR 2.97, P = 0.041). The most common indication for reoperation was intra-abdominal abscess (n = 20, 49%), 55 per cent of which were managed with image-guided drainage. In conclusion, although 30-day revisit, readmission, and reoperation rates after appendectomy are low, there are opportunities for improvement. Furthermore, many 30-day readmissions are not related to the index procedure and must be clearly identified to avoid inaccuracies with reimbursement and quality rankings.

Pediatric Inpatient Readmissions in an Accountable Care Organization

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association between the length of consistent primary care as part of an accountable care organization (attribution length) and population-level and same-hospital readmissions. Readmission studies are generally focused on same-hospital readmissions rather than readmissions to any hospital (population-level readmissions).

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective study of Medicaid claims data for 28,794 unique pediatric patients attributed to a single children's hospital between September 2013 and May 2015. Study used logistic regression to estimate the impact of attribution length on readmissions and a zero-inflated Poisson model to assess the impact of attribution length on readmission cost and readmission days.

RESULTS

The study showed attribution length was associated with a significant reduction in the population-level 30-day readmission rate from 8.9%-6.2% (P = .010) primarily by reducing readmissions that occurred at hospitals other than the discharging hospital. There was no significant reduction in the same-hospital readmission rate. Readmissions to a different hospital occurred in 37% of readmissions. Although not significant at the P = .05 level, attribution length was associated with a 44% reduction (P = .100) in 30-day readmission costs or a 5.0% reduction in the cost of an inpatient episode of care and a 53% reduction (P = .019) in readmission days.

CONCLUSIONS

Consistent primary care (attribution length) may be able to reduce 30-day, pediatric Medicaid patients' readmissions at the population level. The decrease occurred primarily in readmissions to hospitals other than the discharging hospital. There was no decrease in the rate of same-hospital readmissions.

An Examination of Physician-, Caregiver-, and Disease-Related Factors Associated With Readmission From a Pediatric Hospital Medicine Service

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics and reasons for pediatric hospital medicine readmissions. We also aimed to describe characteristics of potentially preventable cases and the reliability of classification.

METHODS

Retrospective descriptive study from December 2008 through June 2010 in a large academic tertiary care children's hospital in Houston, Texas. Children were included if they were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge from the pediatric hospital medicine service. Reasons for readmission were grouped into three categories: physician-related, caretaker-related, and disease-related. Readmissions with physician- or caretaker-related reasons were considered potentially preventable.

RESULTS

The overall readmission rate was 3.1%, and a total of 204 subjects were included in the analysis. Lymphadenitis and failure to thrive had the highest readmission rates with 21%, and 13%, respectively. Twenty percent (n=41/204) of readmissions were preventable with 24% (n=10/41) being physician-related, 12% (n=5/41) caregiver-related, and 63% (n=26/41) for mixed reasons. When comparing classification of readmissions into preventable status, there was moderate agreement between 2 reviewers (K=0.44, 95% confidence interval: 0.28-0.60). Among patients with preventable readmission, the probability of having had a readmission by 7 days and 15 days was 73% and 78%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Reliable identification of preventable pediatric readmissions using individual reviewers remains a challenge. Additional studies are needed to develop a reliable approach to identify preventable readmissions and underlying modifiable factors. A focused review of 7-day readmissions and diagnoses with high readmission rates may allow use of fewer resources.

Outpatient follow-up visits and readmission in medically complex children enrolled in Medicaid

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between postdischarge outpatient follow-up and 30-day readmissions in Medicaid enrolled children with complex, chronic conditions.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective cohort analysis of Colorado Medicaid recipients with complex, chronic conditions who were discharged from the hospital between 2006 and 2008. The primary outcome was readmission between 4 and 30 days after index hospital discharge. Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined the association between early postdischarge outpatient visits (≤ 3 days postdischarge) and readmission. We secondarily analyzed the relationship between any outpatient visit from 4 to 29 days of index discharge and readmission.

RESULTS

For the 2415 patients with complex, chronic conditions included in the analysis, the 4- to 30-day readmission rate was 6.3%. The odds of readmission was significantly greater for patients with ≥ 1 outpatient visit ≤ 3 days after discharge compared with patients without a visit ≤ 3 days after discharge (aOR 1.7 [1.1-2.4]). The odds of readmission were significantly lower for patients with ≥ 1 outpatient visit from 4 to 29 days after discharge compared with patients without such visits (aOR 0.5 [0.3-0.7]). Other factors associated with readmission included index hospital length of stay and number of complex, chronic conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

In medically complex children, there is a positive association between early postdischarge outpatient follow-up and readmission. There is an inverse association between later postdischarge outpatient follow-up and readmission. Outpatient follow-up occurring within 4-29 days after discharge may help to prevent 30-day readmissions. Additional research is needed to inform guidelines regarding longer term postdischarge outpatient follow-up in these children.

Summary of STARNet: Seamless Transitions and (Re)admissions Network

The Seamless Transitions and (Re)admissions Network (STARNet) met in December 2012 to synthesize ongoing hospital-to-home transition work, discuss goals, and develop a plan to centralize transition information in the future. STARNet participants consisted of experts in the field of pediatric hospital medicine quality improvement and research, and included physicians and key stakeholders from hospital groups, private payers, as well as representatives from current transition collaboratives. In this report, we (1) review the current knowledge regarding hospital-to-home transitions; (2) outline the challenges of measuring and reducing readmissions; and (3) highlight research gaps and list potential measures for transition quality. STARNet met with the support of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Quality Improvement Innovation Networks and the Section on Hospital Medicine.

Return to system within 30 days of discharge following pediatric non-shunt surgery

OBJECT

Hospital readmission after discharge is a commonly used quality measure. In a previous study, the authors had documented the rate of readmission and reoperation after pediatric CSF shunt surgery. This study documents the rate of readmission and reoperation after pediatric neurosurgical procedures excluding those related to CSF shunts.

METHODS

Between May 1, 2009, and April 30, 2013, 3098 non-shunt surgeries during 2924 index admissions were performed at a single institution. Demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical characteristics were prospectively collected in the administrative, business, and clinical databases. Clinical events within the 30 days following discharge were reviewed and analyzed. The following events of interest were analyzed for risk factor associations using multivariate logistic regression: return to the emergency department (ED), all-cause readmission, readmission to the neurosurgical service, and reoperation.

RESULTS

The number of all-cause readmissions within 30 days of discharge was 304 (10.4%, 304/2924). Admission sources consisted of the ED (n = 173), hospital transfers (n = 47), and others (n = 84). One hundred eighty of the 304 readmissions were associated with an operation, but only 153 were performed by the neurosurgical service (reoperation rate = 5.2%). These procedures included wound revisions (n = 30) and first-time shunt insertions (n = 35). The remaining 124 readmissions were nonsurgical, and only 54 were admitted to the neurosurgical service for issues related to the index non-shunt surgery. Thus, the rate of related readmission was 7.1% ([153 + 54]/2924). A longer length of stay and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit during the index admission were associated with an increased likelihood of return to the ED and readmission. Certain procedures, such as baclofen pump insertion and intracranial pressure monitor placement, were also found to be associated with adverse clinical events in the 30-day period. Lastly, patients were more likely to a undergo reoperation if the index procedure had started after 3 p.m.

CONCLUSIONS

The all-cause readmission rate within 30 days of discharge after a pediatric neurosurgical procedure was 10.4%, and the rate of related readmission was 7.1%. Whether these readmissions are preventable and to what extent they are preventable requires further study.

Hospital Readmissions Among Children With H1N1 Influenza Infection

OBJECTIVES

To describe readmissions among children hospitalized with H1N1 (influenza subtype, hemagglutinin1, neuraminidase 1) pandemic influenza and secondarily to determine the association of oseltamivir during index hospitalization with readmission.

METHODS

We reviewed data from 42 freestanding children's hospitals contributing to the Pediatric Health Information System from May through December 2009 when H1N1 was the predominant influenza strain. Children were divided into 2 groups by whether they experienced complications of influenza during index hospitalization. Primary outcome was readmission at 3, 7, and 30 days among both patient groups. Secondary outcome was the association of oseltamivir treatment with readmission.

RESULTS

The study included 8899 children; 6162 patients had uncomplicated index hospitalization, of whom 3808 (61.8%) received oseltamivir during hospitalization, and 2737 children had complicated influenza, of whom 1055 (38.5%) received oseltamivir. Median 3-, 7-, and 30-day readmission rates were 1.6%, 2.5%, and 4.7% for patients with uncomplicated index hospitalizations and 4.3%, 5.8%, and 10.3% among patients with complicated influenza. The 30-day readmission rates did not differ by treatment group among patients with uncomplicated influenza; however, patients with complicated index hospitalizations who received oseltamivir had lower all-cause 30-day readmissions than untreated patients. The most common causes of readmission were pneumonia and asthma exacerbations.

CONCLUSIONS

Oseltamivir use for hospitalized children did not decrease 30-day readmission rates in children after uncomplicated index hospitalization but was associated with a lower 30-day readmission rate among children with complicated infections during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. Readmission rates for children who had complicated influenza infection during index hospitalizations are high.

Pediatric complex chronic conditions classification system version 2: updated for ICD-10 and complex medical technology dependence and transplantation

BACKGROUND

The pediatric complex chronic conditions (CCC) classification system, developed in 2000, requires revision to accommodate the International Classification of Disease 10th Revision (ICD-10). To update the CCC classification system, we incorporated ICD-9 diagnostic codes that had been either omitted or incorrectly specified in the original system, and then translated between ICD-9 and ICD-10 using General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs). We further reviewed all codes in the ICD-9 and ICD-10 systems to include both diagnostic and procedural codes indicative of technology dependence or organ transplantation. We applied the provisional CCC version 2 (v2) system to death certificate information and 2 databases of health utilization, reviewed the resulting CCC classifications, and corrected any misclassifications. Finally, we evaluated performance of the CCC v2 system by assessing: 1) the stability of the system between ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes using data which included both ICD-9 codes and ICD-10 codes; 2) the year-to-year stability before and after ICD-10 implementation; and 3) the proportions of patients classified as having a CCC in both the v1 and v2 systems.

RESULTS

The CCC v2 classification system consists of diagnostic and procedural codes that incorporate a new neonatal CCC category as well as domains of complexity arising from technology dependence or organ transplantation. CCC v2 demonstrated close comparability between ICD-9 and ICD-10 and did not detect significant discontinuity in temporal trends of death in the United States. Compared to the original system, CCC v2 resulted in a 1.0% absolute (10% relative) increase in the number of patients identified as having a CCC in national hospitalization dataset, and a 0.4% absolute (24% relative) increase in a national emergency department dataset.

CONCLUSIONS

The updated CCC v2 system is comprehensive and multidimensional, and provides a necessary update to accommodate widespread implementation of ICD-10.

Pediatric hospital care for children with life-threatening illness and the role of palliative care

Under increasing pressure to contain costs, hospitals are challenged to provide high-quality care to an increasingly complex group of children with life-threatening illness (LTI) that often worsen over time. Pediatric palliative care is an essential component of optimal hospital care delivery for these children and their families. This article describes (1) the current landscape of pediatric hospital care for children with LTI, (2) the connection between palliative care and hospital care for such children, and (3) the relationship between health care reform and palliative care for children with LTI.

Return to system within 30 days of discharge following pediatric shunt surgery

OBJECT

The rate of readmission after CSF shunt surgery is significant and has caught the attention of purchasers of health care. However, a detailed description of clinical scenarios that lead to readmissions and reoperations after index shunt surgery is lacking in the medical literature.

METHODS

This study included 1755 shunt revision and insertion surgeries that were performed at a single institution between May 1, 2009, and April 30, 2013. Demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical characteristics were prospectively collected in the administrative, business, and operating room databases. Clinical events within the 30 days following discharge were reviewed and analyzed. Two events of interest, Emergency Department (ED) utilization and reoperation, were further analyzed for risk factor associations by using multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

There were 290 readmissions within 30 days of discharge (16.5%). Admission sources included ED (n = 216), hospital transfers (n = 23), and others. Of the 290 readmissions, 184 were associated with an operation, but only 165 of these were performed by the neurosurgical service. These included surgeries for shunt occlusion and externalization (n = 150), wound revision (n = 7), and other neurosurgical procedures that were not shunt related (n = 8). The remaining readmissions (n = 106) were not associated with an operation, and only 59 patients were admitted for issues related to the index shunt surgery. When return to the ED was the dependent variable in a multivariate regression model, patients who returned to the ED were more likely to be from the Atlanta metropolitan area and to be either uninsured or insured with public assistance. When reoperation was the dependent variable, patients whose surgery started after 3 p.m. were more likely to undergo subsequent CSF shunt revision surgery on readmission.

CONCLUSIONS

Of the readmissions within 30 days of shunt surgery, 74.5% were related to the index shunt surgery. Whether and to what extent these readmissions are preventable continues to be controversial. Further study is needed to identify modifiable risk factors that may eventually improve patient care.

Demographic factors associated with bronchiolitis readmission

OBJECTIVES

The goal of this study was to evaluate patient characteristics and medical management and their association with readmission in children with bronchiolitis.

METHODS

This retrospective chart review included children admitted with bronchiolitis to 2 children's hospitals. Reviewers selected charts based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, diagnosis and collected information on demographic characteristics, treatment, diagnostic testing, length of stay, and adverse outcomes. Univariate analyses were used to identify risk factors associated with any-cause readmission in 4 weeks.

RESULTS

A total of 1229 patients met inclusion criteria. Younger children were more likely to be readmitted within 4 weeks of discharge compared with older children (mean age: 4.5 vs 5.7 months; P = .005). Readmissions did not differ based on length of stay, and no medical intervention was associated with risk for readmission. Of patients readmitted from the large service area hospital, 57% lived ≤20 miles away, compared with 26.9% of those who were not readmitted (P = .03). Patients from the lowest income zip codes within the catchment area of the small service area hospital were more likely to be readmitted compared with patients from the highest income zip codes (7.8% vs 0%; P = .025).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, 6.4% of hospitalized patients with bronchiolitis were readmitted. Our data did not identify any inpatient medical management or modifiable risk factor associated with readmission.

Pediatric hospital discharge interventions to reduce subsequent utilization: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Reducing avoidable readmission and posthospitalization emergency department (ED) utilization has become a focus of quality-of-care measures and initiatives. For pediatric patients, no systematic efforts have assessed the evidence for interventions to reduce these events.

PURPOSE

We sought to synthesize existing evidence on pediatric discharge practices and interventions to reduce hospital readmission and posthospitalization ED utilization.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature.

STUDY SELECTION

Studies available in English involving pediatric inpatient discharge interventions with at least 1 outcome of interest were included.

DATA EXTRACTION

We utilized a modified Cochrane Good Practice data extraction tool and assessed study quality with the Downs and Black tool.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Our search identified a total of 1296 studies, 14 of which met full inclusion criteria. All included studies examined multifaceted discharge interventions initiated in the inpatient setting. Overall, 2 studies demonstrated statistically significant reductions in both readmissions and subsequent ED visits, 4 studies demonstrated statistically significant reductions in either readmissions or ED visits, and 2 studies found statistically significant increases in subsequent utilization. Several studies were not sufficiently powered to detect changes in either subsequent utilization outcome measure.

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions that demonstrated reductions in subsequent utilization targeted children with specific chronic conditions, providing enhanced inpatient feedback and education reinforced with postdischarge support. Interventions seeking to reduce subsequent utilization should identify an individual or team to assume responsibility for the inpatient-to-outpatient transition and offer ongoing support to the family via telephone or home visitation following discharge.

Rehospitalization for childhood asthma: timing, variation, and opportunities for intervention

OBJECTIVE

To assess the timing of pediatric asthma rehospitalization, variation in rate of rehospitalization across hospitals, and factors associated with rehospitalization at different intervals.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort analysis of 44,204 hospitalizations for children with asthma within 42 children's hospitals between July 2008 and June 2011. The main outcome measures were rehospitalization for asthma within 7, 15, 30, 60, 180, and 365 days of an index asthma admission.

RESULTS

The rate of asthma rehospitalization ranged from 0.5% (n = 208) at 7 days to 17.2% (n = 7603) at 365 days. Black patients and patients with public insurance had higher odds of rehospitalization at 60 days and beyond (P ≤ .01 for both). Adolescents (12- to 18-year-old), patients with a diagnosis of a complex chronic condition, and patients with a prior year asthma admission had higher odds of rehospitalization at every time interval (P ≤ .001 for all). Significant hospital variation in case-mix adjusted rates of rehospitalization existed at each time interval (P ≤ .01 for all). Rates at 365 days were ≤ 10.9% for the top 10% of hospitals; if all hospitals achieved this rate, 36.6% of rehospitalizations might have been avoided.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant variation in asthma rehospitalization rates exists across children's hospitals from 7 to 365 days after an index admission. Racial/ethnic and economic disparities emerge at 60 days. By 1 year, rehospitalizations account for 1 in 6 hospitalizations. Assessing asthma rehospitalizations at longer intervals may augment our current understanding of and approach to post-hospitalization care improvement.

Enhancing NSQIP-Pediatric through integration with the Pediatric Health Information System

PURPOSE

We implemented and validated a linkage algorithm for cases in both the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric (NSQIP-Peds) and the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) to investigate healthcare utilization during the first post-operative year.

METHODS

NSQIP-Peds and PHIS cases from our institution who were operated on between January 2010 and September 2011 were matched on gender and dates of birth, admission, and discharge. Rates of true matches were validated using medical records. We examined rates of emergency department (ED) visits, hospital readmissions, potentially preventable readmissions (PPR), and hospital charges within one year of the NSQIP-Peds encounter.

RESULTS

Of the 2,409 NSQIP-Peds and 61,147 PHIS records, 93.6% met match criteria with 92.5% being true matches. Post-operative ED visit rates were 7.8% within 30days, 17.2% between 31-180days, and 18.1% between 181-365days. Readmission rates were 5.5% within 30days, 9.3% between 31-180days, and 8.4% between 181-365days. In patients undergoing inpatient procedures, 10.6% had readmissions within 30days, and 23.7% had readmissions within 365days that were potentially preventable.

CONCLUSIONS

Using indirect identifiers, a linked NSQIP-Peds-PHIS dataset demonstrated high rates of ED visits, readmissions, and PPR in the first post-operative year. This dataset may provide a more comprehensive way to study health care utilization and clinical outcomes.

Predictors of 30-day readmission and association with primary care follow-up plans

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that missing primary care follow-up plans in the discharge summary is associated with higher 30-day readmissions.

STUDY DESIGN

This retrospective cohort study included pediatric patients discharged from Mattel Children's Hospital, University of California, Los Angeles between July 2008 and July 2010. Exclusions included deaths, transfers, neonatal discharges, stays under 24 hours, and patients over 18 years of age. Bivariate and propensity weighted multivariate logistic regressions tested relationships between 30-day readmission and patient demographics, illness severity, and documentation of primary care provider (PCP) follow-up plans at discharge.

RESULTS

There were 7794 index discharges (representing 5056 unique patients), with 1457 readmissions within 30 days (18.7%). Average length of stay was 6.3 days. Being 15-18 years old, (OR 1.42 [1.02-1.96]), having public insurance (OR 1.48 [1.20-1.83]), or having higher All-Patient Refined Diagnosis-Related Group severity scores (for severity = 4 vs 1, OR 6.88 [4.99-9.49]) was associated with increased odds of 30-day readmission. After adjusting for insurance status, Asian (OR 1.46 [1.01-2.12]) but not Black or Hispanic, race/ethnicity was associated with greater odds of readmission. Fifteen percent of 172 medical records from a randomly selected month in 2010 documented PCP follow-up plans. After adjusting for demographics, length of stay and severity, documenting PCP follow-up plans was associated with significantly increased odds of 30-day readmission (OR 4.52 [1.01-20.31]).

CONCLUSION

Readmission rates are complex quality measures, and documenting primary care follow-up may be associated with higher rather than lower 30-day readmissions. Additional studies are needed to understand the inpatient-outpatient transition.

Children's hospitals with shorter lengths of stay do not have higher readmission rates

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that children's hospitals with shorter length of stay (LOS) for hospitalized patients have higher all-cause readmission rates.

STUDY DESIGN

Longitudinal, retrospective cohort study of the Pediatric Health Information System of 183616 admissions within 43 US children's hospitals for appendectomy, asthma, gastroenteritis, and seizure between July 2009 and June 2011. Admissions were stratified by medical complexity, based on whether patients had a complex chronic health condition, were neurologically impaired, or were assisted with medical technology. Outcome measures include LOS; all-cause readmission rates within 3, 7, 15, and 30 days; and the association between hospital-specific mean LOS and all-cause readmission rates as determined by linear regression.

RESULTS

Mean LOS was <3 days for all patients across all conditions, except for appendectomy in complex patients (mean LOS 3.7 days, 95% CI 3.47-4.01). Condition-specific 3-, 7-, 15-, and 30-day all-cause readmission rates for noncomplex patients were all <5%. Condition-specific readmission rates for complex patients ranged from <1% at 3 days for seizures to 16% at 30 days for gastroenteritis. There was no linear association between hospital-specific, condition-specific mean LOS, stratified by medical complexity, and all-cause readmission rates at any time interval within 30 days (all P values ≥.10).

CONCLUSION

In children's hospitals, LOS is short and readmission rates are low for asthma, appendectomy, gastroenteritis, and seizure admissions. In the conditions studied, there is no association between shorter hospital-specific LOS and higher readmission rates within the LOS observed.

Hospital readmission and parent perceptions of their child's hospital discharge

OBJECTIVE

To describe parent perceptions of their child's hospital discharge and assess the relationship between these perceptions and hospital readmission.

DESIGN

A prospective study of parents surveyed with questions adapted from the care transitions measure, an adult survey that assesses components of discharge care. Participant answers, scored on a 5-point Likert scale, were compared between children who did and did not experience a readmission using a Fisher's exact test and logistic regression that accounted for patient characteristics associated with increased readmission risk, including complex chronic condition and assistance with medical technology.

SETTING

A tertiary-care children's hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 348 parents surveyed following their child's hospital discharge between March and October 2010.

INTERVENTION

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Unplanned readmission within 30 days of discharge.

RESULTS

There were 28 children (8.1%) who experienced a readmission. Children had a lower readmission rate (4.4 vs. 11.3%, P = 0.004) and lower adjusted readmission likelihood [odds ratio 0.2 (95% confidence interval 0.1, 0.6)] when their parents strongly agreed (n = 206) with the statement, 'I felt that my child was healthy enough to leave the hospital' from the index admission. Parent perceptions relating to care management responsibilities, medications, written discharge plan, warning signs and symptoms to watch for and primary care follow-up were not associated with readmission risk in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Parent perception of their child's health at discharge was associated with the risk of a subsequent, unplanned readmission. Addressing concerns with this perception prior to hospital discharge may help mitigate readmission risk in children.

An observational study of nurse staffing ratios and hospital readmission among children admitted for common conditions

Background

Hospital patient-to-nurse staffing ratios are associated with quality outcomes in adult patient populations but little is known about how these factors affect paediatric care. We examined the relationship between staffing ratios and all-cause readmission (within 14 days, 15–30 days) among children admitted for common medical and surgical conditions.

Methods

We conducted an observational cross-sectional study of readmissions of children in 225 hospitals by linking nurse surveys, inpatient discharge data and information from the American Hospital Association Annual Survey. Registered Nurses (N=14 194) providing direct patient care in study hospitals (N=225) and children hospitalised for common conditions (N=90 459) were included.

Results

Each one patient increase in a hospital's average paediatric staffing ratio increased a medical child's odds of readmission within 15–30 days by a factor of 1.11, or by 11% (95% CI 1.02 to 1.20) and a surgical child's likelihood of readmission within 15–30 days by a factor of 1.48, or by 48% (95% CI 1.27 to 1.73). Children treated in hospitals with paediatric staffing ratios of 1 : 4 or less were significantly less likely to be readmitted within 15–30 days. There were no significant effects of nurse staffing ratios on readmissions within 14 days.

Discussion

Children with common conditions treated in hospitals in which nurses care for fewer patients each are significantly less likely to experience readmission between 15 and 30 days after discharge. Lower patient-to-nurse ratios hold promise for preventing unnecessary hospital readmissions for children through more effective predischarge monitoring of patient conditions, improved discharge preparation and enhanced quality improvement success.

Pediatric readmission prevalence and variability across hospitals

IMPORTANCE

Readmission rates are used as an indicator of the quality of care that patients receive during a hospital admission and after discharge.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of pediatric readmissions and the magnitude of variation in pediatric readmission rates across hospitals.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS

We analyzed 568,845 admissions at 72 children's hospitals between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010, in the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions Case Mix Comparative data set. We estimated hierarchical regression models for 30-day readmission rates by hospital, accounting for age and Chronic Condition Indicators. Hospitals with adjusted readmission rates that were 1 SD above and below the mean were defined as having "high" and "low" rates, respectively.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Thirty-day unplanned readmissions following admission for any diagnosis and for the 10 admission diagnoses with the highest readmission prevalence. Planned readmissions were identified with procedure codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification.

RESULTS

The 30-day unadjusted readmission rate for all hospitalized children was 6.5% (n = 36,734). Adjusted rates were 28.6% greater in hospitals with high vs low readmission rates (7.2% [95% CI, 7.1%-7.2%] vs 5.6% [95% CI, 5.6%-5.6%]). For the 10 admission diagnoses with the highest readmission prevalence, the adjusted rates were 17.0% to 66.0% greater in hospitals with high vs low readmission rates. For example, sickle cell rates were 20.1% (95% CI, 20.0%-20.3%) vs 12.7% (95% CI, 12.6%-12.8%) in high vs low hospitals, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Among patients admitted to acute care pediatric hospitals, the rate of unplanned readmissions at 30 days was 6.5%. There was significant variability in readmission rates across conditions and hospitals. These data may be useful for hospitals' quality improvement efforts.

Effects of post-discharge telephone calls on the rate of emergency department visits in paediatric patients

AIM

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of post-discharge telephone calls on the rate of emergency department (ED) visits within 3 days following hospitalisation in paediatric patients.

METHODS

Patients hospitalised on the Paediatric Service from May 2008 through December 2008 were included in the intervention group and patients hospitalised from May 2007 through December 2007 were included in the control group. Within 3 days of hospital discharge, nurse practitioners attempted daily to contact caregivers in the intervention group and asked children conditions and provided health information.

RESULTS

There were 643 patients in the intervention group and 642 patients in the control group, respectively. Characteristics of the intervention and control groups were similar with respect to age, sex and days of hospitalisation. Ninety-two per cent of patients in the intervention group received a telephone call from a nurse practitioner within 3 days of hospital discharge. Significantly fewer patients in the intervention group (3 patients, 0.47%) had a subsequent visit to the ED within 3 days of hospital discharge than in the control group (11 patients, 1.71%) (P= 0.034).

CONCLUSIONS

Telephone follow-up is an effective way of providing health information, managing remaining symptoms, recognising complications, advising patients of medical alternatives and giving reassurance; this may reduce unnecessary patient ED visits.

Hospital charges of potentially preventable pediatric hospitalizations

OBJECTIVES

Reducing the number of preventable hospitalizations represents a possible source of health care savings. However, the current literature lacks a description of the extent of potentially preventable pediatric hospitalizations. The study objectives are to (1) identify the charges and (2) demographic characteristics associated with potentially preventable pediatric hospitalizations.

METHODS

Secondary analysis of the 2006 Kids' Inpatient Database (weighted N = 7,558,812). International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes for 16 previously validated pediatric ambulatory care-sensitive (ACS) conditions identified potentially preventable hospitalizations; seven additional conditions reflected updated care guidelines. Outcome variables included number of admissions, hospitalization days, and hospital charges. Demographic and diagnostic variables associated with an ACS condition were compared with regression analyses by the use of appropriate person-level weights.

RESULTS

Pediatric ACS hospitalizations totaled $4.05B in charges and 1,087,570 hospitalization days in 2006. Two respiratory conditions-asthma and bacterial pneumonia-comprised 48.4% of ACS hospital charges and 46.7% of ACS hospitalization days. In multivariate analysis, variables associated with an ACS condition included: male gender (odds ratio [OR] 1.10; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.07-1.13); race/ethnicity of black (OR 1.22; 95% CI 1.16-1.27) or Hispanic (OR 1.12; 95% CI 1.06-1.18); and emergency department as admission source (OR 1.37; 95% CI 1.27-1.48).

CONCLUSIONS

Respiratory conditions comprised the largest proportion of potentially preventable pediatric hospitalizations, totaling as much as $1.96B in hospital charges. Children hospitalized with an ACS condition tend to be male, non-white, and admitted through the emergency department. Future research to prevent pediatric hospitalizations should examine targeted interventions in the primary care setting, specifically around respiratory conditions and minority populations.

Thirty-day readmission rates following hospitalization for pediatric sickle cell crisis at freestanding children's hospitals: risk factors and hospital variation

BACKGROUND

Readmission within 30 days after hospitalization for sickle cell crisis was developed by The National Association of Children's Hospitals (NACHRI) to improve hospital quality, however, there have been few studies validating this.

PROCEDURE

We performed a retrospective examination of 12,104 hospitalizations for sickle crisis from July 1, 2006 and December 31, 2008 at 33 freestanding children's hospitals in the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database. Hospitalizations met NACHRI criteria; inpatient admission, APR DRG code 662, age < 18, discharge home, and length of stay within 2 SD of the mean. We describe 30-day readmission rates, identify factors associated with readmission accounting for patient-level clustering and compare unadjusted versus adjusted variation in readmission rates.

RESULTS

We identified 4,762 patients with 12,104 qualifying hospitalizations (1-30 per patient). Two thousand seventy-four (17%) hospitalizations resulted in a readmission within 30 days. Significant factors associated with readmission were age (OR 1.06/year, P < 0.0001), inpatient use of steroids (OR 1.48, P = 0.01) admission for pain without other sickle complications (OR 1.52, P < 0.0001) and simple transfusion (OR 0.58, P = 0.0002). There was significant variation in readmission rates between hospitals, even after accounting for clustering by patient and hospital case mix.

CONCLUSIONS

In a sample of free-standing children's hospitals, 17% of hospitalizations for sickle cell crisis result in readmission within 30 days. Older patients, those treated with steroids and those admitted for pain are more likely to be readmitted; simple transfusion is protective. Even after adjusting for case mix substantial hospital variation remains, but specific hospital to hospital comparisons differ depending on the exact methods used.