Congenital heart disease in a medical rehabilitation program

Abstract

<h2>Summary</h2> A study of the first 129 childrenwith congenital heart disease cared for in the New York City medical rehabilitation program reveals the following facts:<ul><li>1.This group of 129 children represents 41 per cent of the children with congenital heart disease cared for by the participating hospitals during the period studied.</li><li>2.Most of the children were in theinfant, preschool, and early schoolage groups.</li><li>3.Three of the nine participating hospitals cared for 76 per cent of the children in the program.</li><li>4.Forty-seven per cent of the childrenreceived a diagnostic work-up only, and 53 per cent received a diagnostic work-up and surgery.</li><li>5.At each step of the way in themanagement of children with congenital heart disease, a considerable number of children had a change in diagnosis.</li><li>6.Of the children having surgery, 23 per cent were cured and 48 per cent were improved. Seventeen per cent of the children died during or after surgery.</li><li>7.The average cost per child was$218.31.</li><li>8.The average length of hospitalstay was 31.9 days, of which 16.7 days were covered by the program.</li></ul> The implications of these findings for improvement in the administration of the program and in the care of handicapped children are discussed.