Factors related to the hospital readmission of rural patients transferred to urban centers for acute cardiac interventions

Abstract

This study utilized a systems framework to measure variables related to the nonelective readmission of rural patients transferred to urban centers for acute cardiac intervention. Materials technology variables included rurality, age, gender and marital status. Knowledge technology in the rural hospitalization included admission diagnosis, number of comorbidities, length of stay and method of transfer. Urban knowledge technology consisted of medical intervention, length of stay and discharge diagnosis. Clinical readmission was analyzed using the number of days between urban discharge and rural readmission and the readmission diagnosis. All subjects were followed for one year post urban discharge for non-elective readmission to the rural hospital. Descriptive statistics were used to understand what factors were related to the hospital readmission. Significant variables for the readmitted group included rurality, method of transfer, medical intervention and discharge diagnosis.