Link between length of hospital stay and mortality among hip fracture patients varies across healthcare systems

Commentary on: Nikkel LE, Kates SL, Schreck M, et al.. Length of hospital stay after hip fracture and risk of early mortality after discharge in New York State: retrospective cohort study. BMJ 2015;351:h6246. Implications for practice and research The link between length of stay and mortality is complex and appears to differ across healthcare settings. More insight into the potential causal mechanisms linking length of stay and mortality is needed. Context Hip fracture is the most serious complication related to osteoporosis both from a patient and societal perspective due to the high case-fatality rate and healthcare costs.1 Since length of stay plays a pivotal role for the healthcare costs, reducing the length of stay has become an objective across healthcare systems. However, the aim of lowering the costs of hospital-based care must be balanced against the clinical needs of the patients....
Source: Evidence-Based Nursing - Category: Nursing Authors: Tags: Health policy, Care of the older person, Osteoporosis, Trauma, Health service research, Injury Source Type: research