Analysis of Medicare Pneumonia Discharges Shows that Margaret Mary Health is the Only Indiana Hospital with an Average LOS for a 30-Day Episode of Care Below 4 Days



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By: Jeffrey Maser  Apr. 20, 2018

A Dexur analysis of Medicare inpatient discharge data from CMS indicates that Margaret Mary Health in Batesville had a 3.62 day average length of stay (LOS) for a 30-day episode of care with unplanned readmissions for pneumonia, the lowest rate of any hospital in Indiana between 2013-2016. This made Margaret Mary Health the only hospital in the state with a rate below 4 days. Witham Hospital in Lebanon ranked 2nd at 4.06 days while Plymouth Medical Center in Plymouth and Hancock Regional Hospital in Greenfield tied for 3rd at 4.13 days. Fayette Regional Hospital was just behind in 5th with a 4.14 day rate.

Average LOS for a 30-day episode of care with unplanned readmissions accounts for the index hospital LOS along with any additional days spent in the hospital within the first 30 days post-discharge due to an unplanned readmission. Unplanned readmissions are defined as hospital readmissions via the emergency department. It should be noted, however, that patients are not necessarily readmitted to the index hospital for subsequent stays. Indiana hospitals were included in the rankings if they accounted for at least 50 DRG-193 (Simple Pneumonia And Pleurisy With Major Complication or Comorbidity) discharges between January 2013 - December 2016; 64 hospitals met this criteria. Discharges where the patient expired, was transferred, or was discharged against medical advice were excluded from the totals.

Margaret Mary Health’s 30-day episode of care average LOS is even more impressive when compared to national and state averages. During the analyzed time frame, the hospital’s rate was more than two and a half days lower than the 6.31 day average for Indiana Medicare enrollees and more than three days lower than the national average of 6.84 days. One of the major contributing factors to Margaret Mary Health’s extraordinarily low rate was their index hospital average LOS of 3.59 days, which ranked 2nd lowest in the state and was roughly two days lower than both the national average of 5.81 days as well as the state average of 5.45 days. Another significant contributor was the hospital’s unplanned readmission rate, which was under 12.35%*. This was lower than both the national average of 17.07% as well as the 15.43% average for Indiana Medicare enrollees.

*<11 readmissions - actual rate cannot be disclosed as per CMS privacy guidelines

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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Jeffrey Maser

Jeffrey Maser is an analyst. He truly loves working with numbers and enjoys the challenge of turning healthcare data into a resource that real patients can use to help make important decisions. Jeff's passion for data will serve him well in his quest to become the top mind in Fantasy Hockey. He previously worked at Truven Health Analytics, now a part of IBM Watson Health, and is a graduate of Brandeis University.