Small Critical Access Hospitals Have Fewer Post-Surgery Complications

JAMA recently published results from a study comparing rural critical access hospitals (CAHs) to larger urban hospitals. Here are some key findings from the report:

·         Mortality within 30 days of a surgery (5.5%) was the same at a critical access hospital as larger hospitals.

·         The same surgery costs Medicare $1,400 less at a critical access hospital than at a larger hospital.

·         1 in 4 patients had complications after surgery at large hospitals, while 17.5% did at CAHs.

·         5% of surgery patients at CAHs got transferred to larger hospitals, vs 25% of other patients.

·         CAH surgery patients were less likely to use skilled nursing facilities after their operations.

·         Patients undergoing surgery at critical access hospitals had lower rates of heart failure (7.7% vs 10.7%).

Source: JAMA, May 17, 2016