Affiliations: Franciscan Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Helene M. Dumas, Franciscan Hospital for
Children, 30 Warren Street, Boston, MA 02135, USA. Tel.: +1 617 254 3800 ext
5474; E-mail: hdumas@fhfc.org
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To describe hospital length of stay (LOS), discharge
disposition, and reimbursement by clinical group for children admitted to
pediatric post-acute rehabilitation. METHODS: Demographic and financial
information for all admissions (n=382) for calendar years 2010 and 2011
were combined. Clinical groups (Active Rehabilitation, Medically Complex,
Ventilator Dependent, Neonates) were delineated and compared by LOS, discharge
disposition, and per diem and per admission reimbursement, as well as by age,
gender, admission number, and payer using descriptives, chi-square, or analysis
of variance. LOS, discharge disposition, and reimbursement were also examined
by payer and/or admission number. RESULTS: Clinical groups differed by
LOS (p=0.008), discharge disposition (p < 0.001), age (p <
0.001), admission number (p < 0.001), and payer (p < 0.001). Although
per diem reimbursement was not statistically significant between groups, total
admission reimbursement was highest for the Ventilator group due to a
significantly longer LOS (mean=57.78 days, SD=56.33, p=0.008). LOS
nor discharge disposition was significantly different if the payer was public
or private. Children were more likely discharged home from a first admission
(r=0.321, p < 0.001) than a subsequent admission, and private payers
had a significantly greater (p< 0.001) mean daily reimbursement rate. CONCLUSION: Hospital LOS, discharge disposition, and reimbursement vary
by clinical group in pediatric post-acute rehabilitation.
