Key result
Related adverse readmissions were associated with lower explicit quality of care in pneumonia patients (0.25 standardized units, P=0.004), but did not meaningfully discriminate hospital quality.
Why the study?
Are related adverse readmissions associated with lower quality of care and useful as hospital quality measures in Medicare patients with pneumonia or CHF?
Case-Control (n=1,758)
Yes
Are related adverse readmissions associated with lower quality of care and useful as hospital quality measures in Medicare patients with pneumonia or CHF?
Effect estimate: 0.25 standardized units
p-value: p=0.004
Although related adverse readmissions are statistically associated with lower quality of care, they do not appear to be useful tools for identifying patients who experience inferior care or for comparing quality among hospitals.
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Related readmissions may flag lower pneumonia care quality but should not yet guide hospital comparisons; leaves open their validity as quality metrics.
Weissman et al. (1999) conducted a case-control in Pneumonia or congestive heart failure (n=1,758). Related adverse readmissions (RARs) vs. Nonreadmissions and non-RAR readmissions was evaluated on Adjusted quality of care measured by explicit and implicit methods (0.25 standardized units, p=0.004). Related adverse readmissions were associated with lower explicit quality of care in pneumonia patients (0.25 standardized units, P=0.004), but did not meaningfully discriminate hospital quality.
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