Title: Discriminant based analysis of unplanned 14 days readmission patients of hospital

Authors: Telung Pan, Kwoting Fang, Yuchun Tsai

Addresses: Information Management Department, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, 123 University Road, Section 3, Douliou, Yunlin 64002, Taiwan. ' Information Management Department, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, 123 University Road, Section 3, Douliou, Yunlin 64002, Taiwan. ' Nursing Department, St. Joseph's Hospital, 74 Sin-Shen Road, Hu-Wei, Yunlin 643, Taiwan

Abstract: Medical quality and efficiency are two of the most important dimensions of hospital|s overall management performance. Medical quality and efficiency of hospital is measured by indicator projects in different medical field. Most quality indicator projects adopt a resource-based measurement for the length of stay of patients. One of these indicators is |unplanned readmission rate within 14 days of a discharge|. This study analysed data of readmission inpatients within 14 days between July 1, 2005 and May 30, 2006 based on discriminant analysis. A qualitative research was conducted with many medical experts in the second stage to confirm and enrich the study result from discriminant analysis. Study result shows valuable information for hospital management involved in discharge planning by allowing hospital to identify, prior to discharge, patients who are at risk for readmission. Risk for readmission of patients was associated with more days of stay in the hospital, assistant by respirator, more comorbidities, with complications, advanced age and living status.

Keywords: patient readmissions; discriminant analysis; medical quality; medical efficiency; hospital management; unplanned readmission rate; discharge planning; patient readmission risk; healthcare management.

DOI: 10.1504/WRSTSD.2010.032346

World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, 2010 Vol.7 No.1/2, pp.86 - 99

Published online: 31 Mar 2010 *

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