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When the Cardiology Patient Ends Up in the Oncology Care Ward: New Research Shows What Can Happen with Patients in 'Off-Service' Hospital Beds

  • 1.  When the Cardiology Patient Ends Up in the Oncology Care Ward: New Research Shows What Can Happen with Patients in 'Off-Service' Hospital Beds

    Posted 08-15-2019 09:53

    Management Science Study Key Takeaways:

    • Believe it or not, approximately 1 in 5 patients is placed 'off service,' or in a hospital ward designated for a different specialty of care than what they require.
    • Off-service patient placement leads to a hospital stay that is 23% longer and a higher chance of having to be readmitted within 30 days after initial discharge.
    • In this study, off-service placements contribute to nearly 4,000 additional patient-days per year in the studied hospital. This makes hospital more crowded and patients worse off.

     

    CATONSVILLE, MD, August 15, 2019 – If you end up needing to go to the hospital, often times you're hoping to get a bed without having to wait hours, but a new study shows you may want to wait a little longer, so that you are placed in the best ward for your needs. New research in the INFORMS journal Management Science shows that among patients admitted to the hospital, 19.6% are placed in beds in a ward outside the area of care they require. These patients who are placed 'off service' end up experiencing a 23% longer hospital stay and a higher chance of being readmitted within a month.

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    Ashley Smith
    INFORMS
    Catonsville MD
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