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Chun M, Zhang Y, Nguyen A, Becnel C, Noguera V, Taghavi S, Guidry C, Hussein M, Toraih E, McGrew P. How Does Insurance Status Correlate With Trauma Mechanisms and Outcomes? A Retrospective Study at a Level 1 Trauma Center. Am Surg 2021; 88:859-865. [PMID: 34256642 DOI: 10.1177/00031348211032592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Studies showed that a lack of insurance is associated with worse trauma outcomes. We examine insurance status and trauma mortality in a diverse metropolitan city and hypothesize that the higher risk of mortality in uninsured patients is due to insurance status and other factors. METHODS A retrospective analysis of patients admitted to a Level 1 Trauma center for emergent surgery in a diverse metropolitan city from Jan 2016-May 2020 was conducted. Patients of different insurance statuses were analyzed for their injury mechanism and surgical intervention outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression was performed and the results were presented as odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals and P values. Statistical significance was set at P < .05. RESULTS 738 patients met study criteria. Medicaid patients made up the largest proportions of injury mechanisms: 65.1% of gunshot wound cases, sharp object (41.7%), and falls (32.5%). Private insurance (OR = .13, 95% CI: .05-.35, P = .000), Medicaid (OR = .19, 95% CI: .10-.35, P = .000), Medicare (OR = .65, 95% CI: 0.28-1.51, P = .31), and other insurance (OR = .44, 95% CI 0.22-.87, P = .01) were associated with survival. Uninsured patients had the highest mortality rate resulting from trauma at 32.6% (P < .001), and the lowest mortality rate belonged to the private insurance cohort (6.3%, P < .001). Uninsured patients accounted for 10.5% of gunshot wound cases, 8.5% of motor vehicle accident cases, 25% of sharp object cases, and 6.6% of falls. CONCLUSION Being uninsured was independently associated with mortality, while having insurance improved outcomes. Underlying mechanisms should be further elucidated to improve health equity and trauma outcomes in diverse patient populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magnus Chun
- Department of Surgery, 12255Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Yichi Zhang
- Department of Surgery, 12255Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - An Nguyen
- Department of Surgery, 12255Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Chad Becnel
- Department of Surgery, 12255Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Valeria Noguera
- Department of Surgery, 12255Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Sharven Taghavi
- Department of Surgery, 12255Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Chrissy Guidry
- Department of Surgery, 12255Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Mohammed Hussein
- Department of Surgery, 12255Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Eman Toraih
- Department of Surgery, 12255Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.,Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Genetics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Patrick McGrew
- Department of Surgery, 12255Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
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Funke L, Canal C, Ziegenhain F, Pape HC, Neuhaus V. Does the insurance status influence in-hospital outcome? A retrospective assessment in 30,175 surgical trauma patients in Switzerland. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 2021; 48:1121-1128. [PMID: 34050424 PMCID: PMC9001570 DOI: 10.1007/s00068-021-01689-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Introduction There has been growing evidence in trauma literature that differences in insurance status lead to inequality in treatment and outcome. Most studies comparing uninsured to insured patients were done in the USA. We sought to gain further insights into differences in the outcomes of trauma patients in a healthcare system with mandatory public health coverage by comparing publicly versus privately insured patients. Methods We used a prospective national quality assessment database from the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Qualitätssicherung in der Chirurgie (AQC). More than 80 surgical departments in Switzerland are part of this quality program. We included all patients in the AQC database with any S- or T-code diagnosis according to the International Classification of Diseases ICD-10 (any injuries) who were treated during the 11-year period of 2004–2014. Missing insurance status information was an exclusion criterion. In total, 30,175 patients were included for analysis. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included overall and intra- and postoperative complications. Bi- and multivariate analyses were performed, adjusted for insurance status, age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status category, type of injury, and surgeon’s level of experience. Results In total, 76.8% (n = 23,196) of the patients were publicly insured. Patients with public insurance were significantly younger (p < 0.001), more often male (p < 0.001), and in better general health according to the ASA physical status category (p < 0.001). Length of pre- and postoperative stay and the number of operations per case were similar in the two groups. Patients with public insurance had a lower mortality rate (1.3% vs. 1.9%, p < 0.001), but after adjusting for confounders, insurance status was not a predictor of mortality. Overall complication rates were significantly higher for publicly insured patients (8.4% vs. 6.2%, p < 0.001), and after adjusting for confounders, insurance status was identified as an independent risk factor for overall complications (p < 0.001). Conclusion Differences exist with respect to patient and procedural characteristics: publicly insured patients were younger, more often male, and scored better on ASA physical status. Insurance status seems not to be a predictor for fatal outcome after trauma, although it is associated with complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Funke
- Division of Trauma Surgery, Department of Traumatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Claudio Canal
- Division of Trauma Surgery, Department of Traumatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Franziska Ziegenhain
- Division of Trauma Surgery, Department of Traumatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hans-Christoph Pape
- Division of Trauma Surgery, Department of Traumatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Valentin Neuhaus
- Division of Trauma Surgery, Department of Traumatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland
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Cook A. Do the uninsured demand less care? Evidence from Maryland's hospitals. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT 2020; 20:251-276. [PMID: 32144604 PMCID: PMC8739838 DOI: 10.1007/s10754-020-09280-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Uninsured individuals receive fewer healthcare services for at least three reasons: responsibility for the entire bill, higher prices, and potential provider reductions for concern of nonpayment. I isolate reductions when uninsured patients are solely financially responsible by capitalizing on Maryland's highly regulated health care system. Prices are set by the state, are uniform across all patients, and hospitals are compensated for free care and bad debt. I use a unique feature of the data, multiple readmissions for patients who gain or lose insurance between visits, to isolate the reductions in quantity demanded when individuals are faced with paying the full price without an insurance contribution. A Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition estimates uninsured individuals receive 6% fewer services after accounting for differences in patient, illness, and hospital characteristics than when these same individuals are insured.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Cook
- Department of Economics, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, 43403, USA.
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Abedzadeh-Kalahroudi M, Razi E, Sehat M. The relationship between socioeconomic status and trauma outcomes. J Public Health (Oxf) 2018; 40:e431-e439. [DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdy033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 02/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ebrahim Razi
- Trauma Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Mojtaba Sehat
- Trauma Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
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Lack of Health Insurance Associated With Lower Probability of Head Computed Tomography Among United States Traumatic Brain Injury Patients. Med Care 2018; 56:1035-1041. [DOI: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Berg GM, Searight M, Sorell R, Lee FA, Hervey AM, Harrison P. Payer Source Associated with Disparities in Procedural, but Not Surgical, Care in a Trauma Population. Am Surg 2018. [DOI: 10.1177/000313481808400856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Trauma centers are legally bound by Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act to provide equal treatment to trauma patients, regardless of payer source. However, evidence has suggested that disparities in trauma care exist. This study investigated the relationships between payer source and procedures (total, diagnostic, and surgical) and the number of medical consults in an adult trauma population. This is a 10-year retrospective trauma registry study at a Level I trauma facility. Payer source of adult trauma patients was identified, demographics and variables associated with trauma outcomes were abstracted, and multivariate logistic regression tests were used to determine statistical differences in the number of procedures and medical consults. Of the 12,870 records analyzed, 69.1 per cent of patients were commercially insured, 21.2 per cent were uninsured, and 9.6 per cent had Medicaid. After controlling for patient- and injury-related variables, the commercially insured received more total procedures (4.30) than the uninsured (3.35) or those with Medicaid (3.34), and more diagnostic (2.59) procedures than the uninsured (2.03) or those with Medicaid (2.04). There was not a difference in the number of surgical procedures or medical consults among payer sources. This study noted that disparities (measured by the number of procedures received) compared by payer source existed in the care of trauma patients. However, for medical consults and definitive care (measured by surgical procedures), disparities were not observed. Future research should focus on secondary factors that influence levels of care such as patient-level factors (health literacy) and trauma program policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina M. Berg
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Wichita, Kansas
- Department of Trauma Services, Wesley Healthcare, Wichita, Kansas
| | - Maggie Searight
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Wichita, Kansas
| | - Ryan Sorell
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Wichita, Kansas
| | - Felecia A. Lee
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Wichita, Kansas
| | - Ashley M. Hervey
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Wichita, Kansas
| | - Paul Harrison
- Department of Trauma Services, Wesley Healthcare, Wichita, Kansas
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Hamilton EC, Miller CC, Cotton BA, Cox C, Kao LS, Austin MT. The association of insurance status on the probability of transfer for pediatric trauma patients. J Pediatr Surg 2016; 51:2048-2052. [PMID: 27686481 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2016.09.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of insurance status on the probability of transfer of pediatric trauma patients to level I/II centers after initial evaluation at lower level centers. METHODS A retrospective review of all pediatric trauma patients (age<16years) registered in the 2007-2012 National Trauma Data Bank was performed. Multiple regression techniques controlling for clustering at the hospital level were used to determine the impact of insurance status on the probability of transfer to level I/II trauma centers. RESULTS Of 38,205 patients, 33% of patients (12,432) were transferred from lower level centers to level I/II trauma centers. Adjusting for demographics and injury characteristics, children with no insurance had a higher likelihood of transfer than children with private insurance. Children with public or unknown insurance status were no more likely to be transferred than privately insured children. There were no variable interactions with insurance status. CONCLUSIONS Among pediatric trauma patients, lack of insurance is an independent predictor for transfer to a major trauma center. While burns, severely injured, and younger patients remain the most likely to be transferred, these findings suggest a triage bias influenced by insurance status. Additional policies may be needed to avoid unnecessary transfer of uninsured pediatric trauma patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Case-control study, level III.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma C Hamilton
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX; Center for Surgical Trials and Evidence-Based Practice, McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
| | - Charles C Miller
- Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
| | - Bryan A Cotton
- Department of Surgery and Center for Translational Injury Research, McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
| | - Charles Cox
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX; Center for Surgical Trials and Evidence-Based Practice, McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX; Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - Lillian S Kao
- Center for Surgical Trials and Evidence-Based Practice, McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX; Department of Surgery, McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
| | - Mary T Austin
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX; Center for Surgical Trials and Evidence-Based Practice, McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX; Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, TX; Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; Department of Pediatric Patient Care, Children's Cancer Hospital, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
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8
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Bell N, Repáraz L, Fry WR, Smith RS, Luis A. Variation in type and frequency of diagnostic imaging during trauma care across multiple time points by patient insurance type. BMC Med Imaging 2016; 16:61. [PMID: 27809859 PMCID: PMC5094090 DOI: 10.1186/s12880-016-0146-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research has shown that uninsured patients receive fewer radiographic studies during trauma care, but less is known as to whether differences in care are present among other insurance groups or across different time points during hospitalization. Our objective was to examine the number of radiographic studies administered to a cohort of trauma patients over the entire hospital stay as well as during the first 24-hours of care. METHODS Patient data were obtained from an American College of Surgeons (ACS) verified Level I Trauma Center between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2012. We used negative binomial regression to construct relative risk (RR) ratios for type and frequency of radiographic imaging received among persons with Medicare, Medicaid, no insurance, or government insurance plans in reference to those with commercial indemnity plans. The analysis was adjusted for patient age, sex, race/ethnicity, injury severity score, injury mechanism, comorbidities, complications, hospital length of stay, and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission. RESULTS A total of 3621 records from surviving patients age > =18 years were assessed. After adjustment for potential confounders, the expected number of radiographic studies decreased by 15 % among Medicare recipients (RR 0.85, 95 % CI 0.78-0.93), 11 % among Medicaid recipients (0.89, 0.81-0.99), 10 % among the uninsured (0.90, 0.85-0.96) and 19 % among government insurance groups (0.81, 0.72-0.90), compared with the reference group. This disparity was observed during the first 24-hours of care among patients with Medicare (0.78, 0.71-0.86) and government insurance plans (0.83, 0.74-0.94). Overall, there were no differences in the number of radiographic studies among the uninsured or among Medicaid patients during the first 24-hours of care compared with the reference group, but differences were observed among the uninsured in a sub-analysis of severely injured patients (ISS > 15). CONCLUSIONS Both uninsured and insured patients treated at a not-for-profit verified Level I Trauma Center receive fewer radiographic studies than patients with commercial indemnity plans, even after adjusting for clinical and demographic confounders. There is less disparity in care during the first 24-hours, which suggests that patient pathology is the determining factor for radiographic evaluation during the acute care phase. Results from this study offer initial evidence of disparity in diagnostic imaging across multiple insurance groups over different periods of trauma care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel Bell
- College of Nursing, University of South Carolina, 1601 Greene Street, Columbia, SC 29208 USA
| | - Laura Repáraz
- College of Nursing, University of South Carolina, 1601 Greene Street, Columbia, SC 29208 USA
| | - William R. Fry
- Department of Surgery, Good Samaritan Medical Center, Lafayette, CO USA
| | - R. Stephen Smith
- Professor of Surgery, Trauma Medical Director, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
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9
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Wilson S, Dev S, Mahan M, Malhotra M, Miller J. Identifying disparity in emergency department length of stay and admission likelihood. World J Emerg Med 2016; 7:111-6. [PMID: 27313805 DOI: 10.5847/wjem.j.1920-8642.2016.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To assess whether insurance status has an effect on emergency department (ED) length of stay (LOS) and likelihood for admission or transfer to an operating room. METHODS This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of all encounters from January 2011 through October 2013 at an urban, academic trauma center. Analysis included multi-variable linear regression for ED LOS and logistic regression for the likelihood of admission. RESULTS Overall, 201 535 patients met the inclusion criteria, for which the mean age was 43.8 years, 55.9% were female, 23.4% were uninsured and 8% were of non-black race. Admission rate was 24.5% and operative rate was 1.4%. After adjusting for age, sex, triage acuity and race, the presence of insurance coverage was associated with an increased ED LOS of 575 (95%CI 552-598) vs. 567 (95%CI 543-591) minutes (P<0.01) among admitted patients and a decreased ED LOS of 456 (95%CI 381-531) vs. 499 (95%CI 423-575) minutes (P<0.01) among those transferred to an operating room. Adjusting for these same predictors, insured status remained a predictor for admission (odds ratio 1.24, 95%CI 1.20-1.28, P<0.01) and a negative predictor for transfer to the operating room (odds ratio 0.84, 95%CI 0.77-0.92, P<0.01). CONCLUSION The insured experienced a clinically insignificant increase in ED LOS when admitted and a 43-minute decrease in ED LOS when being transferred to the operating room. The insured were more likely to be admitted and less likely to be transferred to an operating room.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Wilson
- Emergency Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Orange, California 92868, USA
| | - Sharmistha Dev
- Emergency Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan 48202, USA
| | - Meredith Mahan
- Emergency Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan 48202, USA
| | - Manu Malhotra
- Emergency Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan 48202, USA
| | - Joseph Miller
- Emergency Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan 48202, USA
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Carlström ED, Hansson Olofsson E, Olsson LE, Nyman J, Koinberg IL. The unannounced patient in the corridor: trust, friction and person-centered care. Int J Health Plann Manage 2015; 32:e1-e16. [PMID: 26369302 DOI: 10.1002/hpm.2313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2015] [Revised: 07/29/2015] [Accepted: 07/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, a Swedish cancer clinic was studied where three to four unscheduled patients sought support from the hospital on a daily basis for pain and nutrition problems. The clinic was neither staffed nor had a budget to handle such return visits. In order to offer the patients a better service and decrease the workload of the staff in addition to their everyday activities, a multidisciplinary team was established to address the unscheduled return visits. The team was supposed to involve the patient, build trust, decrease the friction, and contribute to a successful rehabilitation process. Data were collected from the patients and the staff. Patients who encountered the team (intervention) and patients who encountered the regular ad hoc type of organization (control) answered a questionnaire measuring trust and friction. Nurses in the control group spent 35% of their full-time employment, and the intervention group staffed with nurses spent 30% of their full-time employment in addressing the needs of these return patients. The patients perceived that trust between them and the staff was high. In summary, it was measured as being 4.48 [standard deviation (SD) = 0.82] in the intervention group and 4.41 (SD = 0.79) in the control group using the 5-point Likert scale. The data indicate that using a multidisciplinary team is a promising way to handle the problems of unannounced visits from patients. Having a team made it cost effective for the clinic and provided a better service than the traditional ad hoc organization. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric D Carlström
- The Sahlgrenska Academy - Institute of Health and Care Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Centre for Person-Centred Care (GPCC), Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Elisabeth Hansson Olofsson
- The Sahlgrenska Academy - Institute of Health and Care Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Centre for Person-Centred Care (GPCC), Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Lars-Eric Olsson
- The Sahlgrenska Academy - Institute of Health and Care Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Centre for Person-Centred Care (GPCC), Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jan Nyman
- Department of Oncology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Inga-Lill Koinberg
- The Sahlgrenska Academy - Institute of Health and Care Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Centre for Person-Centred Care (GPCC), Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Oncology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Losonczy LI, Weygandt PL, Villegas CV, Hall EC, Schneider EB, Cooper LA, Cornwell EE, Haut ER, Efron DT, Haider AH. The severity of disparity: increasing injury intensity accentuates disparate outcomes following trauma. J Health Care Poor Underserved 2015; 25:308-20. [PMID: 24509028 DOI: 10.1353/hpu.2014.0021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Studies have shown disparities in mortality among racial groups and among those with differing insurance coverage. Our goal was to determine if injury severity affects these disparities. METHODS We classified patients from the 2003-2008 National Trauma Data Banks suffering moderate to severe injuries into six groups based on race/ethnicity and insurance, stratifying by injury severity. Logistic regression compared odds of death between races-ethnicities/insurance groups within these strata. We adjusted for age, gender, Injury Severity Score, Glasgow Coma Scale motor component, hypotension, and mechanism of injury. RESULTS Patients meeting inclusion criteria numbered 760,598. Disparities between races-ethnicities/insurance groups increased as injury severity worsened. Odds of death for uninsured Black patients compared with insured Whites increased from 1.82 among moderately injured patients to 3.14 among severely injured, hypotensive patients. A similar pattern was seen among uninsured Hispanic patients. CONCLUSIONS Disparities in trauma mortality suffered by minority and uninsured patients, when compared with non-minority and insured patients, worsen with increasing injury.
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Santry HP, Collins CE, Wiseman JT, Psoinos CM, Flahive JM, Kiefe CI. Rates of insurance for injured patients before and after health care reform in Massachusetts: a possible case of double jeopardy. Am J Public Health 2014; 104:1066-72. [PMID: 24825208 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2013.301711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We determined how preinjury insurance status and injury-related outcomes among able-bodied, community-dwelling adults treated at a Level I Trauma Center in central Massachusetts changed after health care reform. METHODS We compared insurance status at time of injury among non-Medicare-eligible adult Massachusetts residents before (2004-2005) and after (2009-2010) health care reform, adjusted for demographic and injury covariates, and modeled associations between insurance status and trauma outcomes. RESULTS Among 2148 patients before health care reform and 2477 patients after health care reform, insurance rates increased from 77% to 84% (P < .001). Younger patients, men, minorities, and penetrating trauma victims were less likely to be insured irrespective of time period. Uninsured patients were more likely to be discharged home without services (adjusted odds ratio = 3.46; 95% confidence interval = 2.65, 4.52) compared with insured patients. CONCLUSIONS Preinjury insurance rates increased for trauma patients after health care reform but remained lower than in the general population. Certain Americans may be in "double jeopardy" of both higher injury incidence and worse outcomes because socioeconomic factors placing them at risk for injury also present barriers to compliance with an individual insurance mandate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heena P Santry
- Heena P. Santry is with the Departments of Surgery and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester. Courtney E. Collins, Jason T. Wiseman, and Charles M. Psoinos are with the Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School. Julie M. Flahive is with the Center for Outcomes Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School. Catarina I. Kiefe is with the Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School
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13
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Magnitude of national ED visits and resource utilization by the uninsured. Am J Emerg Med 2013; 31:722-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2013.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2012] [Revised: 12/31/2012] [Accepted: 01/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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Stone ML, LaPar DJ, Mulloy DP, Rasmussen SK, Kane BJ, McGahren ED, Rodgers BM. Primary payer status is significantly associated with postoperative mortality, morbidity, and hospital resource utilization in pediatric surgical patients within the United States. J Pediatr Surg 2013; 48:81-7. [PMID: 23331797 PMCID: PMC3921619 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2012.10.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2012] [Accepted: 10/13/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Current healthcare reform efforts have highlighted the potential impact of insurance status on patient outcomes. The influence of primary payer status (PPS) within the pediatric surgical patient population remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine risk-adjusted associations between PPS and postoperative mortality, morbidity, and resource utilization in pediatric surgical patients within the United States. METHODS A weighted total of 153,333 pediatric surgical patients were evaluated using the national Kids' Inpatient Database (2003 and 2006): appendectomy, intussusception, decortication, pyloromyotomy, congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair, and colonic resection for Hirschsprung's disease. Patients were stratified according to PPS: Medicare (n=180), Medicaid (n=51,862), uninsured (n=12,539), and private insurance (n=88,753). Multivariable hierarchical regression modeling was utilized to evaluate risk-adjusted associations between PPS and outcomes. RESULTS Overall median patient age was 12 years, operations were primarily non-elective (92.4%), and appendectomies accounted for the highest proportion of cases (81.3%). After adjustment for patient, hospital, and operation-related factors, PPS was independently associated with in-hospital death (p<0.0001) and postoperative complications (p<0.02), with increased risk for Medicaid and uninsured populations. Moreover, Medicaid PPS was also associated with greater adjusted lengths of stay and total hospital charges (p<0.0001). Importantly, these results were dependent on operation type. CONCLUSIONS Primary payer status is associated with risk-adjusted postoperative mortality, morbidity, and resource utilization among pediatric surgical patients. Uninsured patients are at increased risk for postoperative mortality while Medicaid patients accrue greater morbidity, hospital lengths of stay, and total charges. These results highlight a complex interaction between socioeconomic and patient-related factors, and primary payer status should be considered in the preoperative risk stratification of pediatric patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L. Stone
- Department of Surgery, The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Damien J. LaPar
- Department of Surgery, The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Daniel P. Mulloy
- Department of Surgery, The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Sara K. Rasmussen
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Bartholomew J. Kane
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Eugene D. McGahren
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Bradley M. Rodgers
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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LaPar DJ, Stukenborg GJ, Guyer RA, Stone ML, Bhamidipati CM, Lau CL, Kron IL, Ailawadi G. Primary payer status is associated with mortality and resource utilization for coronary artery bypass grafting. Circulation 2012; 126:S132-9. [PMID: 22965973 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.111.083782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medicaid and uninsured populations are a significant focus of current healthcare reform. We hypothesized that outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in the United States is dependent on primary payer status. METHODS AND RESULTS From 2003 to 2007, 1,250,619 isolated CABG operations were evaluated using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. Patients were stratified by primary payer status: Medicare, Medicaid, uninsured, and private insurance. Hierarchical multiple regression models were applied to assess the effect of primary payer status on postoperative outcomes. Unadjusted mortality for Medicare (3.3%), Medicaid (2.4%), and uninsured (1.9%) patients were higher compared with private insurance patients (1.1%, P<0.001). Unadjusted length of stay was longest for Medicaid patients (10.9 ± 0.04 days) and shortest for private insurance patients (8.0 ± 0.01 days, P<0.001). Medicaid patients accrued the highest unadjusted total costs ($113 380 ± 386, P<0.001). Importantly, after controlling for patient risk factors, income, hospital features, and operative volume, Medicaid (odds ratio, 1.82; P<0.001) and uninsured (odds ratio, 1.62; P<0.001) payer status independently conferred the highest adjusted odds of in-hospital mortality. In addition, Medicaid payer status was associated with the longest adjusted length of stay and highest adjusted total costs (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Medicaid and uninsured payer status confers increased risk adjusted in-hospital mortality for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting operations. Medicaid was further associated with the greatest adjusted length of stay and total costs despite risk factors. Possible explanations include delays in access to care or disparate differences in health maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien J LaPar
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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16
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Petrinco M, Di Cuonzo D, Berchialla P, Gilardetti M, Foltran F, Scarinzi C, Costa G, Gregori D. Economic burden of injuries in children: cohort study based on administrative data in a northwestern Italian region. Pediatr Int 2011; 53:846-50. [PMID: 21895864 DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-200x.2011.03461.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aims of the present study were to identify which types of injuries are responsible for the major component of the health burden and to estimate the relative costs in a cohort of Italian children. METHODS All children (0-14 years) residing in the Piedmont region, who were hospitalized for an injury (ICD-9-CM codes 800-995, excluding late effects from injury and allergies) between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2003, were considered. The cohort was linked by a unique identifier to: all the hospitalizations, all the day-hospital care, and all the prescribed medicines. Outcome was defined as the difference in health service use in the 12 months following the injury, and was compared to the year preceding the injury occurrence. Total number of hospital admissions for each individual, cumulative length of stay, day-hospital care, and prescribed medicines were calculated for the two periods. The cost of additional inpatient days and of additional outpatient care was calculated. RESULTS The three most common injury categories were: intracranial injury (27.6%), fracture of upper limb (18.7%); and fracture of lower limb (9.07%); they were responsible for the major part of the additional inpatient days (55%) and outpatient care (70%). The additional expense for the National Health System during the year following an injury is approximately 1700 € for children aged 0-14. CONCLUSIONS This is the first Italian study to attempt to quantify the injury economic burden in a cohort of children: the costs imposed on society by injuries, suggest how important it is to commit resources to injury prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Petrinco
- Department of Public Health and Microbiology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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Baillargeon J, Paar D, Giordano TP, Zachariah B, Rudkin LL, Wu ZH, Raimer BG. Emergency department usage by uninsured patients in Galveston County, Texas. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent) 2011; 21:236-42. [PMID: 18628970 DOI: 10.1080/08998280.2008.11928401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The number of uninsured Texas residents who rely on the medical emergency department as their primary health care provider continues to increase. Unfortunately, little information about the characteristics of this group of emergency department users is available. Using an administrative billing database, we conducted a descriptive study to examine the demographic and clinical features of 17,110 consecutive patients without medical insurance who presented to the emergency department of the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston over a 12-month period. We also analyzed the risk of multiple emergency department visits or hospitalization according to demographic characteristics. Twenty percent of the study population made two or more emergency department visits during the study period; 19% of the population was admitted to the hospital via the emergency department. The risk of multiple emergency department visits was significantly elevated among African Americans and increased in a stepwise fashion according to age. The risk of being hospitalized was significantly reduced among females, African Americans, and Hispanics. There was an age-related monotonic increase in the risk of hospitalization. Abdominal pain, cellulitis, and spinal disorders were the most common primary diagnoses in patients who made multiple emergency department visits. Hospitalization occurred most frequently in patients with a primary diagnosis of chest pain, nonischemic heart disease, or an affective disorder. Additional studies of emergency department usage by uninsured patients from other regions of Texas are warranted. Such data may prove helpful in developing effective community-based alternatives to the emergency department for this growing segment of our population. Local policymakers who are responsible for the development of safety net programs throughout the state should find this information particularly useful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacques Baillargeon
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA.
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Lapar DJ, Bhamidipati CM, Walters DM, Stukenborg GJ, Lau CL, Kron IL, Ailawadi G. Primary payer status affects outcomes for cardiac valve operations. J Am Coll Surg 2011; 212:759-67. [PMID: 21398153 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2010.12.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2010] [Revised: 12/14/2010] [Accepted: 12/14/2010] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disparities in health care have been reported among various patient populations, and the uninsured and Medicaid populations are a major focus of current health care reform. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of primary payer status on outcomes after cardiac valve operations in the United States. METHODS From 2003 to 2007, 477,932 patients undergoing cardiac valve operations were evaluated using discharge data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database. Records were stratified by primary payer status: Medicare (n = 57,249, age = 74.0 ± 0.02 years), Medicaid (n = 5,868, age = 41.2 ± 0.13 years), uninsured (n = 2,349, age = 49.7 ± 0.15 years), and private insurance (n = 31,808, age = 53.3 ± 0.04 years). Multivariate regression models were applied to assess the independent effect of payer status on in-hospital outcomes. RESULTS Preoperative patient risk factors were more common among Medicare and Medicaid populations. Unadjusted mortality and complication rates for Medicare (6.9%, 36.6%), Medicaid (5.7%, 31.4%) and uninsured (5.2%, 31.4%) patient groups were higher compared with private insurance groups (2.9%, 29.9%; p < 0.001). In addition, mortality was lowest for patients with private insurance for all types of valve operations. Medicaid patients accrued the longest unadjusted hospital length of stay and highest total hospital costs compared with other payer groups (p < 0.001). Importantly, after risk adjustment, uninsured and Medicaid payer status conferred the highest odds of risk-adjusted mortality and morbidity compared with private insurance status, which were higher than those for Medicare. CONCLUSIONS Uninsured and Medicaid payer status is associated with increased risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality and morbidity among patients undergoing cardiac valve operations compared with Medicare and private insurance. In addition, Medicaid patients accrued the longest hospital stays and highest total costs. Primary payer status should be considered as an independent risk factor during preoperative risk stratification and planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien J Lapar
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Medicaid and Uninsured populations are a significant focus of current healthcare reform. We hypothesized that outcomes following major surgical operations in the United States is dependent on primary payer status. METHODS From 2003 to 2007, 893,658 major surgical operations were evaluated using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database: lung resection, esophagectomy, colectomy, pancreatectomy, gastrectomy, abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, hip replacement, and coronary artery bypass. Patients were stratified by primary payer status: Medicare (n = 491,829), Medicaid (n = 40,259), Private Insurance (n = 337,535), and Uninsured (n = 24,035). Multivariate regression models were applied to assess outcomes. RESULTS Unadjusted mortality for Medicare (4.4%; odds ratio [OR], 3.51), Medicaid (3.7%; OR, 2.86), and Uninsured (3.2%; OR, 2.51) patient groups were higher compared to Private Insurance groups (1.3%, P < 0.001). Mortality was lowest for Private Insurance patients independent of operation. After controlling for age, gender, income, geographic region, operation, and 30 comorbid conditions, Medicaid payer status was associated with the longest length of stay and highest total costs (P < 0.001). Medicaid (P < 0.001) and Uninsured (P < 0.001) payer status independently conferred the highest adjusted risks of mortality. CONCLUSIONS Medicaid and Uninsured payer status confers increased risk-adjusted mortality. Medicaid was further associated with the greatest adjusted length of stay and total costs despite risk factors or operation. These differences serve as an important proxy for larger socioeconomic and health system-related issues that could be targeted to improve surgical outcomes for US Patients.
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Race affects mortality after moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. J Surg Res 2010; 163:303-8. [PMID: 20605614 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2010.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2010] [Revised: 02/24/2010] [Accepted: 03/04/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the most common cause of death and disability in trauma patients, affecting over 1 million Americans per year. Minorities are at disproportionate risk for TBI, and they account for nearly half of all brain injury hospitalizations. Little is known regarding racial disparities in TBI patients. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of race on mortality in patients with moderate to severe isolated TBI. METHODS The Los Angeles County Trauma System database, consisting of admissions from five Level I and eight Level II trauma centers, was queried for all patients with isolated moderate to severe TBI admitted between 1998 and 2005. Demographics and mortality were compared between races: Asian, African American, Hispanic, White, and Other. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between race and mortality. RESULTS A total of 17,977 (23.8% female, 76.2% male) severe TBI patients were evaluated. Of this study population, 7.1% were Asian, 13.5% were African American, 42.3% were Hispanic, 32.5% were White, and 4.7% where classified as Other. Overall, Asians (adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] 1.4; 95% CI: 1.14-1.71, P = 0.001) had a significantly higher risk in mortality when compared with Whites. Surprisingly, neither African Americans (AOR 1.02; 95% CI: 0.87-1.2, P = 0.82), nor Hispanics (AOR 1.00; 95% CI: 0.89-1.13, P > 0.9) were at increased risk of death compared to their White counterparts. CONCLUSION This data supports the hypothesis that race may play a role in mortality in moderate to severe TBI. However, only Asians were at higher risk for death.
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Rosen H, Saleh F, Lipsitz SR, Meara JG, Rogers SO. Lack of insurance negatively affects trauma mortality in US children. J Pediatr Surg 2009; 44:1952-7. [PMID: 19853754 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2008.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2008] [Revised: 12/15/2008] [Accepted: 12/17/2008] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Uninsured children face health-related disparities in screening, treatment, and outcomes. To ensure payer status would not influence the decision to provide emergency care, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) was passed in 1986, which states patients cannot be refused treatment or transferred from one hospital to another when medically unstable. Given findings indicating the widespread nature of disparities based on insurance, we hypothesized that a disparity in patient outcome (death) after trauma among the uninsured may exist, despite the EMTALA. METHODS Data on patients age 17 years or younger (n = 174,921) were collected from the National Trauma Data Bank (2002-2006), containing data from more than 900 trauma centers in the United States. We controlled for race, injury severity score, sex, and injury type to detect differences in mortality among the uninsured and insured. Logistic regression with adjustment for clustering on hospital was used. RESULTS Crude analysis revealed higher mortality for uninsured children and adolescents compared with the commercially or publicly insured (odds ratio [OR] 2.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.64-3.34; P < .001). Controlling for sex, race, age, injury severity, and injury type, and clustering within hospital facility, uninsured children had the highest mortality compared with the commercially insured (OR, 3.32; 95% CI, 2.95-3.74; P < .001], whereas children and adolescents with Medicaid also had higher mortality (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.07-1.33; P = .001). CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that uninsured and publicly insured American children and adolescents have higher mortality after sustaining trauma while accounting for a priori confounders. Possible mechanisms for this disparity include treatment delay, receipt of fewer diagnostic tests, and decreased health literacy, among others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Rosen
- Department of Plastic and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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