Short-term inpatient care and readmission rates: the CMHC approach versus the private approach

Community mental health centers hospitalize patients for a significantly shorter time than do private psychiatric hospitals. Proponents of the private system of care assert that the shorter hospitalization contributes to an increased probability of readmission. A comparison of the readmission experi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inHospital & community psychiatry Vol. 31; no. 11; p. 751
Main Authors McNeill, D N, Stevenson, J, Longabaugh, R H
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.11.1980
Subjects
Aftercare
Community Mental Health Centers
Costs and Cost Analysis
Hospitalization - economics
Hospitals, Psychiatric
Humans
Patient Admission
Patient Readmission
Primary Health Care - economics
Psychotic Disorders - therapy
Reimbursement Mechanisms
Statistics as Topic
Time Factors
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Summary:Community mental health centers hospitalize patients for a significantly shorter time than do private psychiatric hospitals. Proponents of the private system of care assert that the shorter hospitalization contributes to an increased probability of readmission. A comparison of the readmission experience of CMHC patients and private patients who were hospitalized at the same institution showed no significant differences in the short-term recidivism rate. It is suggested that an aftercare network that is closely integrated with hospital care is a necessary supplement to brief hospitalization. In addition, it appears that restrictive reimbursement policies for outpatient care result in an increase in the duration of hospitalization and in the probability of rehospitalization.
ISSN:0022-1597
DOI:10.1176/ps.31.11.751