HOSPITAL SERVICES REPORT : MONITORING EFFECTIVENESS - JUN97

How many patients need to return unexpectedly to hospital for further care?

Unplanned readmissions to hospital ^{1, 2}

	MAR 96 quarter	DEC 96 quarter	MAR 97 quarter	Change (%) DEC 96 to MAR 97
(1) Total patients treated 3	204804	219685	206466	-6.0
(2) Total patients treated LESS patients with readmission 'not applicable' 4	191096	199088	186812	-6.2
(3) Total patients readmitted to hospital	57974	63944	60752	-5.0
(4) Total patients with unplanned readmission within 28 days of initial discharge	19309	21107	18534	-12.1
(5=4/2) Unplanned readmissions as a proportion of total patients treated	10.1%	10.6%	9.9%

¹Data for current quarter is provisional.

² The indicator of unplanned readmissions for further treatment of the same or a related condition is still being developed. Currently the indicator includes readmissions for chronic conditions and for unrelated conditions. The indicator does not include unplanned readmissions for the same condition to a different hospital.

³ The number of patients treated is counted when they leave hospital (separation). Total patients treated includes all separations from Victorian Public Hospitals except unqualified newborns and separations from stand alone, non -casemix funded hospitals.

⁴ Readmission category 'not applicable' includes changes in care type, transfers from other acute hospitals, patients leaving at own risk against medical advice, and deaths.

Source: Victorian Inpatient Minimum Database.