Patterns of unjustified pediatric hospital stay
Schiff, E.; Modan, B.; Barzilay, Z.; Blumstein, Z.; Fuchs, Z.; Mozes, B.
Israel Journal of Medical Sciences 29(1): 33-36
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-2180 PMID: 8454444 Document Number: 421114
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.