More people die when hospital bed shortages force patients out

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-05/nuos-mpd052020.php

News Release 20-May-2020
Norwegian University of Science and Technology


The pressure to send home more patients increases when hospital beds are in short supply.

For example, you have a greater chance of being discharged on a Friday or the day before a holiday. The chance of being discharged on days when the hospital is full due to high activity may also be greater, which can have very serious consequences for patients.

"Patients who are operated on for hip fractures have a higher risk of dying if they are discharged from the hospital early for space reasons," says Professor Johan Håkon Bjørngaard at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology's (NTNU) Department of Public Health and Nursing.

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The difference in the 60-day mortality rate between patients discharged for space reasons and other patients is around four percentage points.

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