HOSPITAL SERVICES REPORT : MONITORING EFFECTIVENESS - NOV 96

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

Unplanned readmissions to hospital¹

	SEP93 quarter4	MAR96 quarter	JUN96 quarter	Change (%) MAR96 to JUN96
(1) Total patients treated2	181696	202041	214442	+6.1
(2) Total patients treated LESS patients with readmission 'not applicable'3	170883	188416	199613	+5.9
(3) Total patients readmitted to hospital	42325	57859	60077	+3.8
(4) Total patients with unplanned readmission within 28 days of initial discharge	15905	19349	20660	+6.8
(5=4/2) Unplanned readmissions as a proportion of total patients treated	9.3%	10.3%	10.3%

¹The 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.

² The number of patients treated is counted when they leave hospital (separation).

³ Readmission category `not applicable' includes changes in care type, transfers from other acute hospitals, patients leaving at own risk against medical advice, and deaths.

⁴ Data collection commenced on 1 July 1993. September 1993 data do not include Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital.

Source: Victorian Inpatient Minimum Database