Robert Goldberg
From the ever interesting http://fiercehealthcare.com
A new study has drawn a conclusion that flies in the face of the core assumptions most planners make about healthcare. At least for some patients, shorter hospital stays aren't better, according to the study, which was published in this month's Archives of Internal Medicine. The researchers, who studied 15,531 Pennsylvania patients diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism, found that those who were discharged sooner were at greater risk of death. Specifically, patients discharged after four or fewer dies were much more likely to die than those remaining in the hospital for five or more days.
This definitely proves Wennberg's point about regional variation: There are cheaper ways to die. I guess he left figuring out the most effective ways to prolong life to others....
Posted by Robert Goldberg on April 15, 2008 1:17 PM
From the ever interesting http://fiercehealthcare.com
A new study has drawn a conclusion that flies in the face of the core assumptions most planners make about healthcare. At least for some patients, shorter hospital stays aren't better, according to the study, which was published in this month's Archives of Internal Medicine. The researchers, who studied 15,531 Pennsylvania patients diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism, found that those who were discharged sooner were at greater risk of death. Specifically, patients discharged after four or fewer dies were much more likely to die than those remaining in the hospital for five or more days.
This definitely proves Wennberg's point about regional variation: There are cheaper ways to die. I guess he left figuring out the most effective ways to prolong life to others....
Posted by Robert Goldberg on April 15, 2008 1:17 PM
