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Rinne S, Wong ES, Hebert PL, Au DH, Neely EL, Sulc CA, Liu C. Weekend discharges and length of stay among patients admitted for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Poster session presented at: AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting; 2014 Jun 8; San Diego, CA.
Fewer patients are discharged on the weekend Limited hospital staffing, diagnostic tests, and therapeutic interventions exist on weekends Study sample: 25,301 VA patients admitted for COPD during 10/01/2008 - 9/30/2010 Outcomes: length of stay and associated cost all-cause 30-day readmission 30-day mortality Analysis: discrete time hazard analysis to assess change in length of stay with weekend discharges multivariable logistic regression to assess risk of readmission and mortality On average, COPD admissions were 0.52 days longer associated with the weekend effect The average COPD admission costs an additional $558 with the weekend effect* Fewer weekend discharges resulted in longer length of stay and higher associated costs No increased risk of readmissions among patients discharged on the weekend Weekend discharges had lower mortality The paucity of weekend discharges may represent a missed opportunity in hospital efficiency Increased length of stay related to weekend discharges could impair patient centered care and have substantial effects on health care costs
