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Two metrics may improve quality of care for traumatic brain injury patients
According to the results of a recently published study, overall rates of patient safety indicators and hospital-acquired conditions can be indicative of the safety and quality of the care provided to hospitalized patients with traumatic brain injuries.
Researchers used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database to identify 24,012 traumatic brain injury patients treated at nonfederal hospitals in the United States. The researchers estimated the incidences of patient safety indicators (PSIs) and hospital acquired conditions (HAC) in the patient cohort and evaluated their findings to determine any correlation with factors such as comorbidity score, teaching hospital status and insurance status.
Among the cases studied, the researchers identified 15,403 PSIs and 65 HACs. The only PSIs occurring in more than 1% of patients were sepsis, deep vein thrombosis and pressure ulcers. Payer status and comorbidity scores were found to independently contribute to HACs in the patients, with trauma-fracture occurring in 73.3% of the patients, according to the researchers.
The researchers found the overall rates of HACs and PSIs in patients with traumatic brain injuries were high. Patients with increased age, male sex, comorbidity score and primary payer status had higher rates of HACs and PSIs, as well. – by Robert Linnehan
Disclosure: The researchers reported no relevant financial disclosures.