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ABSTRACT: Objective
To corroborate anecdotal evidence with systematic evidence of a lower threshold for admission among for-profit hospitals.Data sources
The study used Florida emergency department and hospital discharge datasets for 2012 to 2014. The treatment variable of interest was for-profit-designated trauma center status. The dependent variable indicated whether a patient with mild-to-moderate injuries was admitted after presenting as a trauma alert and then discharged to home. A separate analysis was conducted of discharges that had a 1-day length of stay.Study design
Generalized estimation equations with logistic distribution models were used to control for the confounding influences and developed for four groups of patients: ICISS = 1 (no probability of mortality), ICISS ? 0.99, ICISS ? 0.95, and ICISS ? 0.85 (zero to 15 percent probability of mortality, which includes all mild and moderate injury patients).Principal findings
For the ICISS = 1 and ICISS ? 0.99 models, the centers' for-profit status was the most important predictor. In the ICISS ? 0.95 and ICISS ? 0.85 models, injury type played a more important role, but for-profit status remained important. For patients with a 1-day stay, for-profit status was associated with an even higher probability of hospitalization.Conclusions
Considerable differences exist between for-profit and not-for-profit trauma centers concerning hospitalization among the study population, which may be explained by supplier-induced demand.
SUBMITTER: Pracht EE
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5785306 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Pracht Etienne E EE Langland-Orban Barbara B Ryan Jessica L JL
Health services research 20170110 1
<h4>Objective</h4>To corroborate anecdotal evidence with systematic evidence of a lower threshold for admission among for-profit hospitals.<h4>Data sources</h4>The study used Florida emergency department and hospital discharge datasets for 2012 to 2014. The treatment variable of interest was for-profit-designated trauma center status. The dependent variable indicated whether a patient with mild-to-moderate injuries was admitted after presenting as a trauma alert and then discharged to home. A se ...[more]