Charlotte Hungerford Hospital had the Lowest Average Length of Stay in Connecticut for a 30-Day Episode of Care with Unplanned Readmissions as well as the Index Hospital Average LOS for Spinal Fusion between 2013-2016
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By: Jeffrey Maser Feb. 27, 2018
A recent Dexur study of Medicare inpatient spinal fusion (except cervical) discharge data from CMS shows that Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington, Connecticut accounted for the lowest average length of stay (LOS) for a 30-day episode of care with unplanned readmissions among all hospitals in the state between 2013-2016 at 1.92 days. Charlotte Hungerford was the only hospital in the state with an average LOS under 2 days for a 30-day episode of care for spinal fusion. New Milford Hospital, located in New Milford, ranked 2nd at 2.15 days and Rockville General Hospital in Vernon ranked 3rd at 2.65 days. These three facilities were the only hospitals in Connecticut with an average LOS for a 30-day episode of care under 3 days. Bristol Hospital, located in Bristol, ranked 4th at exactly 3 days while Griffin Hospital in Derby ranked 5th at 3.05 days.
The average length of stay measure 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 readmitted period. This holistic measure accounts for instances where hospitals may have a lower length of stay during the index stay compared to other hospitals but have a higher readmission rate, thus impacting quality outcomes. Length of stay over a 30-day episode also accounts for measures such as surgical complications, as complications would increase the overall LOS for the index stay and lead to higher readmission rates as well. It is important to note that patients are not necessarily readmitted to the index hospital for subsequent stays. Connecticut hospitals were included in the rankings if they accounted for at least 30 DRG-460 (Spinal Fusion Except Cervical Without Major 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 the totals.
Charlotte Hungerford’s average LOS for a 30-day episode of care for spinal fusion was more than 1.5 days lower than the national average of 3.6 days and more than 2 days lower than the average LOS of 3.95 days for Medicare enrollees from Connecticut. Charlotte Hungerford’s average LOS for the index hospital stay was also the lowest in Connecticut during the four year time period at 1.78 days. They were the only facility in the state to report an average LOS under 2 days for the index hospital stay.
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- Hospital Location, State Market Share of Total Inpatient Discharges in 2016 and DRG-460 Average LOS for 30-Day Episode of Care between January 2013 - December 2016 for the Nation, Connecticut Medicare Enrollees and the 10 Connecticut Hospitals with the Lowest DRG-460 Average LOS for 30-Day Episode of Care between January 2013 - December 2016
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