Table 3.
Outcomes Associated with Observation Versus Short-Stay Hospitalization Among Medicare Beneficiaries (Percentage Point Change)
| Return ED visit | Readmission | Mortality | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30-Day | 90-Day | 30-Day | 90-Day | In-event | 30-Day | 90-Day | |
| Observation stay | 1.0a (0.04) | 2.1a (0.05) | −3.4a (0.04) | −4.2a (0.05) | −9.6a (0.02) | −1.9a (0.02) | −2.2a (0.03) |
| % Change relative to sample mean | 8.6 | 9.1 | −27.6 | −17.9 | −174.5 | −65.5 | −37.3 |
| Sample mean (SD) | 11.6 (32.1) | 23.0 (42.1) | 12.3 (32.9) | 23.4 (42.3) | 5.5 (22.8) | 2.9 (16.7) | 5.9 (23.5) |
| Model observations | 3,075,568 | 3,013,941 | 3,089,282 | 3,058,910 | 3,554,626 | 3,155,052 | 3,155,052 |
| Sample observations | 3,266,206 | 3,200,857 | 3,280,835 | 3,248,710 | 3,769,293 | 3,350,604 | 3,350,604 |
Source: Authors' analysis of Medicare claims data, 2007–2010.
Standard errors in parentheses.
a
p<0.01.