Predictors of acute hospital costs for treatment of @entity385 in an XXXX center.

@entity1 @entity64 @entity63 @entity4207 @entity955 @entity299 @entity385
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We sought to determine predictors of acute hospital costs in @entity1 presenting with acute @entity385 to an @entity4207 center using a @entity64 management team to coordinate care. METHODS: Demographic and clinical data were prospectively collected on 191 @entity1 consecutively admitted with acute @entity385 . @entity1 were classified by insurance status, premorbid modified Rankin scale, @entity64 location, @entity64 severity (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score), and presence of comorbidities. Detailed hospital charge data were converted to cost by application of department-specific cost-to-charge ratios. Physician's fees were not included. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was computed to determine the predictors of total hospital cost. RESULTS: Median length of stay was 6 days (range, 1 to 63 days), and mortality was 3%. Median hospital cost per discharge was  4408 (range,  1199 to  59 799). Fifty percent of costs were for room charges, 19% for @entity64 evaluation, 21% for medical management, and 7% for acute rehabilitation therapies. Sixteen percent were admitted to an intensive care unit. Length of stay accounted for 43% of the variance in total cost. Other independent predictors of cost included @entity64 severity, heparin treatment, @entity955 , male sex, @entity63 @entity299 , and premorbid functional status. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the major predictors of acute hospital costs of @entity64 in this environment are length of stay, @entity64 severity, @entity299 , male sex, and use of heparin. Room charges accounted for the majority of costs, and attempts to reduce the cost of @entity64 evaluation would be of marginal value. Efforts to reduce acute costs should be monitored for potential cost shifting or a negative impact on quality of care.
