CHARACTERISTICS OF SHORT-STAY ADMISSIONS TO A PSYCHIATRIC INPATIENT SERVICE

Citation
D. Yohanna et al., CHARACTERISTICS OF SHORT-STAY ADMISSIONS TO A PSYCHIATRIC INPATIENT SERVICE, JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES & RESEARCH, 25(3), 1998, pp. 337-345
Citations number
19
Categorie Soggetti
Heath Policy & Services
ISSN journal
10943412
Volume
25
Issue
3
Year of publication
1998
Pages
337 - 345
Database
ISI
SICI code
1094-3412(1998)25:3<337:COSATA>2.0.ZU;2-Q
Abstract
Since the rapid expansion of managed care coupled with dramatic reduct ions in lengths of inpatient stays, there is widespread concern that t he emphasis on cost containment is eclipsing attention to patient care . The present study was undertaken to evaluate speculations that the m ajority of short-stay (less than 48 hours) admissions to a psychiatric inpatient service at a large teaching hospital in the midwestern Unit ed States consisted of public pay patients who were rapidly transferre d to area state hospitals. Using two case mix measures, severity of il lness and changes in acuity and clinical outcomes of a sample of short -stay (n = 77) and longer stay (n = 145) admissions were compared. Sho rt-stay admissions, although similar to longer stay patients in terms of demographics, Axis I diagnosis, payer status, and appropriateness o f admission, are clinically distinct. The use of nonhospital alternati ves in treating a subsample of suicidal patients and the implications for improved mental health service delivery are discussed.