Factors associated with postop readmission to nonindex hospital

Editor's Note

Patients who were readmitted to a nonindex hospital after having emergency general surgery were significantly more likely to have had their index surgery at a large, teaching, safety-net hospital, this study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, finds.

Readmission to a nonindex hospital was independently associated with mortality (adjusted OR=1.16). The study included 109,443 readmitted patients, of whom 20,396 were readmitted to nonindex hospitals.

With the adverse outcomes associated with care discontinuity, sustained efforts to increase continuity of care in these hospitals ares needed, the authors say.

Question What hospital factors are associated with readmission to a nonindex hospital following emergency general surgery? Findings In an analysis of the 100% Medicare inpatient claims file from January 1, 2008, to November 30, 2011, patients who underwent emergency general surgery and were subsequently readmitted to a nonindex hospital were significantly more likely to have had their index surgery at a large, teaching, safety-net hospital.