Table 1.

Characteristics of service network outcomes in the VHA, 1993–1998

		Fiscal year
		1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	All years
	Total number of patients	38 088	39 574	40 201	38 955	38 627	37 498	23 2943
(k)	Mean number of patients	1731	1799	1827	1771	1756	1704	10 589
Inpatient measures
(1)	Mean percent readmitted within 180 days	36.9	35.3	35.2	35.1	34.4	33.5	35.2
Patients with a subsequent admission
(2)	Mean number of readmissions	1.7	1.7	1.7	1.7	1.7	1.7	1.7
(3)	Mean number of bed days	33.9	33.3	31.4	29.2	24.4	22.3	29.3
(4)	Mean days to first readmission	62.8	64.1	64.0	64.5	63.6	63.4	64.1
Outpatient measures
(5)	Mean percent OP visit within 180 days	74.2	73.7	75.3	77.4	77.6	79.5	76.2
Patients with at least one OP visit
(6)	Mean number of OP visits	12.2	13.3	13.4	14.9	17.6	18.8	14.5
(7)	Mean days to first OP visit	35.5	35.4	34.8	33.8	31.8	30.6	33.9
(8)	Mean number of periods of continuity	1.6	1.7	1.6	1.7	1.8	2.5	1.8

Numbers represent the mean per service network; OP = outpatient. A fiscal year is defined as October 1 of previous year through September 30 of current year, e.g. fiscal year 1998 corresponds to October 1, 1997 to September 30, 1998. k indexes outcome measure.