Estimating risk associated with care in alternative settings: deterioration among children hospitalized.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-1-1998
Identifier
DOI: 10.1001/archpedi.152.7.651
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although managed care favors use of alternative settings in an attempt to avoid hospitalization, uncertainty about possible deterioration creates concern about their safety.
OBJECTIVE: To derive preliminary estimates for the risk of adverse outcome in children hospitalized with acute illness who met criteria for admission to potentially less-expensive, alternative settings (eg, short-stay unit, home nursing).
DESIGN: Description of hospitalization outcomes for a community-wide childhood population.
SETTING AND POPULATION: All 11591 hospitalizations for residents of Monroe County (Rochester), New York, aged 1 month to 18 years in 1991 and 1992.
MEASUREMENTS: To identify potential adverse outcomes in alternative settings (numerator estimate), hospital medical records for admissions to regular inpatient units were examined. To ascertain deterioration among these admissions, detailed record reviews were conducted if the child died or was transferred to another hospital or to a critical care unit. To estimate the total number of admissions eligible for care in alternative settings (denominator estimate), hospital discharge files were analyzed.
RESULTS: Deterioration was found in 83 medical admissions. Of these 83, major chronic problems (n=53) or severe illness at presentation (n=27) precluded alternative setting eligibility, leaving only 3 in whom alternative setting care might have been considered. The total number of admissions eligible for alternative setting care was estimated between 1661 (restrictive criteria) and 3322 (inclusive criteria) for the 2-year observation period. Based on these observations, best- and worst-case estimates for the risk of deterioration in candidates for care in alternative settings were 0.6 and 1.8 per 1000, respectively. For the 3 children for whom alternative setting care might have been considered, the shortest period from first indication of deterioration to arrival in the critical care unit was 3.0 hours.
CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary estimates suggest that alternative settings may be safe for the care of many children currently hospitalized. A randomized clinical trial to evaluate directly the potential benefits and harms of alternative setting care should be considered.
Journal Title
Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine
Volume
152
Issue
7
First Page
651
Last Page
658
MeSH Keywords
Adolescent; Ambulatory Care Facilities; Child; Child, Preschool; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Disease Progression; Female; Home Care Services; Hospitalization; Humans; Infant; Male; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Risk
Keywords
Patient Safety; Risk Assessment; Hospitalized Child
Recommended Citation
McConnochie, K. M., Callahan, C. M., Conners, G. P., Roghmann, K. J. Estimating risk associated with care in alternative settings: deterioration among children hospitalized. Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine 152, 651-658 (1998).
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