Study: Teaching hospitals had higher readmission, lower mortality rates

Teaching hospitals with a higher intensity of physician-training activity achieve lower mortality rates, but higher hospitalization readmission rates for key medical diagnoses, according to a study in the July issue of Medical Care. The disparity in readmissions is greatest for “safety-net” hospitals serving low-income populations, according to the research, which was announced last week.

The research included data on 2,418 hospitals and focused on three conditions widely used in assessing the quality and outcomes of hospital care: acute myocardial infarction (heart attack), congestive heart failure, and pneumonia. Medium- and high-intensity teaching hospitals had higher rates of readmission for patients with all three conditions, compared to nonteaching hospitals. However, high-intensity teaching hospitals had lower mortality rates for myocardial infarction and heart failure than nonteaching hospitals, and differences in outcomes remained significant after adjustment for patient risk factors, the study found.

Source: Wolters Kluwer Health