Bowel Procedures at Baptist Health Richmond: 5.5 Day Average LOS for a 30-Day Episode of Care with Unplanned Readmissions is Lowest in Kentucky
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By: Jeffrey Maser Mar. 02, 2018
A recent Dexur analysis of Medicare inpatient colorectal discharge data shows that Baptist Health Richmond in Richmond, Kentucky had the lowest average length of stay (LOS) for a 30-day episode of care with unplanned readmissions for major small and large bowel procedures of all Kentucky hospitals between 2013-2016 at 5.5 days. This was more than 3 days lower than the 8.59 day average for U.S. Medicare enrollees as well as the 8.85 day average for Kentucky Medicare enrollees. Baptist Health Richmond's 30-day episode of care average LOS was also 1.35 days lower than 2nd ranked Jennie Stuart Medical Center in Hopkinsville, which came in at 6.85 days. Saint Joseph Hospital in Lexington ranked 3rd at 6.99 days. These three facilities were the only Kentucky hospitals with a 30-day episode of care average LOS under one week.
The average length of stay value for a 30-day episode of care includes average length of stay during the index stay, readmission rates, and hospital length of stay during the 30-day readmitted period. This measure accounts for cases where hospitals may have a lower average length of stay during the index stay compared to other hospitals but have a higher readmission rate, therefore impacting quality of care. Length of stay over a 30-day episode of care also accounts for measures such as surgical complications, as complications increase the overall length of stay for the index stay; this would subsequently lead to higher readmission rates. It is important to note that patients do not necessarily return to the index hospital for readmitted stays.
Kentucky hospitals were included in the rankings if they accounted for at least 30 DRG-330 (Major Small And Large Bowel Procedures With Complication or Comorbidity) discharges between January 2013 - December 2016. Discharges where the patient expired, was transferred, or was discharged against medical advice were excluded from total discharges.
Baptist Health Richmond's average LOS for a 30-day episode of care for DRG-330 was also the lowest in Kentucky for the year of 2016 alone at 4.36 days (hospitals with 11 or more DRG-330 discharges between January - December 2016 were included in the 2016 rankings). The national average decreased 0.47 days between the four year time period and 2016 alone, in which the nation averaged 8.12 days. The state average decreased by 0.69 days to 8.16 days. Compared to state and national averages, Baptist Health Richmond's decrease in average LOS by over a full day is quite impressive. In 2016, the 2nd ranking hospital was Saint Joseph Hospital at 5.54 days and the 3rd ranking hospital was King's Daughters Medical Center in Lexington at 5.83 days.
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- DRG-330 Average Length of Stay for a 30-Day Episode of Care between 2013 - 2016, State Market Share of Total Inpatient Discharges in 2016, and Hospital Location for the 10 Kentucky Hospitals with the Lowest DRG-330 Average Length of Stay for a 30-Day Episode of Care between January 2013 - December 2016
- DRG-330 Average Length of Stay for a 30-Day Episode of Care between January - December 2016, State Market Share of Total Inpatient Discharges in 2016, and Hospital Location for the 10 Kentucky Hospitals with the Lowest DRG-330 Average Length of Stay for a 30-Day Episode of Care between January - December 2016
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