@article{ref1,
title="Comparing severely injured trauma patients admitted to investor-owned versus public and not-for-profit hospitals reveals opportunities for improvement in the US",
journal="American surgeon",
year="2023",
author="Hernandez, Jennifer and Spector, Chelsea L. and Quintero, Luis A. and Shatawi, Zaineb and Rosenthal, Andrew and Curcio, Gary and Buicko, Jessica L. and Parreco, Joshua P.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Non-elderly trauma patients represent the largest portion of preventable years of life loss in the US. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes in patients admitted to investor-owned vs public and not-for-profit hospitals across the US. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Nationwide Readmissions Database 2018 was queried for trauma patients with an Injury Severity Score greater than 15 and age 18-65 years. The primary outcome was mortality; secondary outcomes were prolonged length of stay (LOS) greater than 30 days, readmission within 30 days, and readmission to a different hospital. Patients admitted to investor-owned hospitals were compared to public and not-for-profit hospitals. Univariable analysis was performed using chi-squared tests. Multivariable logistic regression was performed for each outcome. <br><br>RESULTS: 157 945 patients were included with 11.0% (n = 17 346) admitted to investor-owned hospitals. The overall mortality rate and prolonged LOS were similar for both groups. The overall readmission rate was 9.2% (n = 13 895), with the rate in investor-owned hospitals at 10.5% (n = 1,739, P <.001). Multivariable logistic regression revealed investor-owned hospitals had an increased risk of readmission (OR 1.2 [1.1-1.3] P <.001) and readmission to a different hospital (OR 1.3 [1.2-1.5] P <.001). <br><br>DISCUSSION: Severely injured trauma patients have similar rates of mortality and prolonged length of stay in investor-owned vs public and not-for-profit hospitals. However, patients admitted to investor-owned hospitals have an increased risk of readmission and readmission to different hospitals. Efforts to improve outcomes after trauma must consider hospital ownership and readmission to different hospitals.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0003-1348",
doi="10.1177/00031348231160818",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00031348231160818"
}