By Josh Gray: Vice President, Analytic Services at Health Data Analytics Institute
Written with Diana Homsy: Senior Manager, Analytic Services at Health Data Analytics Institute
We recently wrote about the overall positive performance of academic medical centers (AMCs). On an actual to expected basis, AMCs have 13% lower 30-day post admission mortality and 14% longer length of stay (LOS). But these averages mask wide variation across programs.As seen in the table below, AMC performance varies dramatically among different hospitals. Thirty-day post admission mortality performance ranged from 0.69 (31% below expected) for top decile programs to 1.11 (11% above expected) bottom decile of programs. Of the 114 programs that we analyzed, 24 (one in five) had actual to expected mortality equivalent to, or higher than, US hospitals as a whole.
Performance for readmission rates and LOS also varies widely. We’ve noted previously that AMCs have a LOS problem. While actual to expected (AE) LOS for top quartile programs is 28% longer than expected, the lowest quartile of programs have AE LOS of 0.99, very close to hospitals as a whole. Readmission rates for top and bottom quartile programs are 0.91 and 1.09 respectively.
The take home message is that while most AMCs have lower mortality rates and higher LOS, AMC status is neither a guarantee of better survival nor an excuse for excessive stays. Patients deserve greater visibility into hospital outcomes so that they can choose the best program for their needs.
If you would like to discuss your work in the healthcare space and learn more about HDAI, please contact us. We would love to speak with you.
Josh Gray, VP of Analytic Services, HDAI (josh.gray@HDA-institute.com)
Diana Homsey, Senior Manager, HDAI (diana.homsey@HDA-institute.com)
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