Financial charges of hospitalized motorcyclists at the Massachusetts General Hospital
Bach, B.R.; Wyman, E.T.
Journal of Trauma 26(4): 343-347
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-5282 PMID: 3959140 Document Number: 274831
We studied 47 hospitalized motorcyclists admitted through the Massachusetts General Hospital emergency room during a 1-year period. Four factors were studied: (1) hospitalization changes, (2) hospitalization lengths, (3) medical insurance profiles, and (4) patterns of injuries. The mean hospitalization charges were $15,114. The total hospital charges for this group of patients were nearly $700,000. These figures excluded the costs of subsequent admissions, surgeons' fees, rehabilitation, vocational training, legal suits, and loss of wages. Sixteen per cent of the charges were uncollectable. Forty-six per cent of the patients were uninsured. The average hospitalization was 22 days. The mean age was 22 years and 90% of patients were less than 30 years old. Eightly-five per cent of the patients sustained at least one fracture. Lower extremity fractures occurred in 60%, open fractures in 55%, and tibia fractures occurred in 33% of the patients. Associated head, chest, or abdominal injuries occurred in 40% of the patients. Patients with multiple fractures, open fractures, and grade 3 open tibia fractures had substantially higher hospital bills.