ArticleBMC health services research2009
A qualitative examination of inappropriate hospital admissions and lengths of stay.
Article in BMC health services research, 2009. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 25 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
25 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Interventions to Prevent Potentially Avoidable Hospitalizations: A Mixed Methods Systematic Review.Frontiers in public health · 2022Pooled it
- Pooled it
- The Short Stay Unit as a new option for hospitals: a review of the scientific literature.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2011Pooled it
- Implementation of a program for treatment of acute infections in nursing homes without hospital transfer.Frontiers in medicine · 2024Article
- Inappropriate Hospital Stay of Patients Admitted Under Care of General Medicine Units: A retrospective study.Sultan Qaboos University medical journal · 2023Article
- Solutions for improved hospital-wide patient flows - a qualitative interview study of leading healthcare providers.BMC health services research · 2023Article
- Rate and causes of inappropriate stays and the resulting financial burden in a single specialty burns hospital.BMC health services research · 2022Article
- The Changing Face of Head and Neck Cancer; How the Head and Neck One-Stop Clinic Has Evolved Since Conception.Journal of maxillofacial and oral surgery · 2022Article
- Healthcare Providers' Perceptions of Potentially Preventable Rural Hospitalisations: A Qualitative Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Healthcare professionals' experiences with highly qualified nurses working in acute care teams in primary healthcare settings.Scandinavian journal of primary health care · 2021Article
- Is There a Difference in the Utilisation of Inpatient Services Between Two Typical Payment Methods of Health Insurance? Evidence from the New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme in China.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2019Article
- Effect of inappropriate admissions on hospitalization performance in county hospitals: a cross-sectional study in rural China.Cost effectiveness and resource allocation : C/E · 2019Article
- The decision-making process for unplanned admission to hospital unveiled in hospitalised older adults: a qualitative study.BMC geriatrics · 2018Article
- Determinants of Inappropriate Admissions in County Hospitals in Rural China: A Cross-Sectional Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2018Article
- Predictors of inappropriate hospital stay: experience from Iran.Global journal of health science · 2014Article
- Delay in discharge and its impact on unnecessary hospital bed occupancy.BMC health services research · 2012Article
- Hospital admissions from nursing homes: a qualitative study of GP decision making.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2012Article
- Standardizing admission and discharge processes to improve patient flow: a cross sectional study.BMC health services research · 2012Article
- Triumph of hope over experience: learning from interventions to reduce avoidable hospital admissions identified through an Academic Health and Social Care Network.BMC health services research · 2012Review
- Acute care alternate-level-of-care days due to delayed discharge for traumatic and non-traumatic brain injuries.Healthcare policy = Politiques de sante · 2012Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundResearch has shown that a number of patients, with a variety of diagnoses, are admitted to hospital when it is not essential and can remain in hospital unnecessarily. To date, research in this area has been primarily quantitative. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceived causes of inappropriate or prolonged lengths of stay and focuses on a specific population (i.e., patients with long term neurological conditions). We also wanted to identify interventions which might avoid admission or expedite discharge as periods of hospitalisation pose particular risks for this group.
methodsTwo focus groups were conducted with a convenience sample of eight primary and secondary care clinicians working in the Derbyshire area. Data were analysed using a thematic content approach.
resultsThe participants identified a number of key causes of inappropriate admissions and lengths of stay, including: the limited capacity of health and social care resources; poor communication between primary and secondary care clinicians and the cautiousness of clinicians who manage patients in community settings. The participants also suggested a number of strategies that may prevent inappropriate admissions or reduce length of stay (LoS), including: the introduction of new sub-acute care facilities; the introduction of auxiliary nurses to support specialist nursing staff and patient held summaries of specialist consultations.
conclusionClinicians in both the secondary and primary care sectors acknowledged that some admissions were unnecessary and some patients remain in hospital for a prolonged period. These events were attributed to problems with the current capacity or structuring of services. It was noted, for example, that there is a shortage of appropriate therapeutic services and that the distribution of beds between community and sub-acute care should be reviewed.
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