Early post‐natal discharge and falling infant readmission rates

Abstract

Journal of Paediatrics and Child HealthVolume 50, Issue 11 p. 929-929 Heads UpFree Access Early post-natal discharge and falling infant readmission rates First published: 06 November 2014 https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.12748 edited by Craig Mellis (craig.mellis@sydney.edu.au) AboutSectionsPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Here's some good news! Despite shorter lengths of stay for birth admissions, readmission rates during the first year of life are falling – at least in NSW. A large data-linkage study examined all live births in NSW and subsequent admission to hospital (either public or private) in the first year of life.1 Data were available for almost 800 000 live births from 2001 to 2009. Readmission rates fell from 18.4 per 100 births in 2001 to 16.5 in 2009, an absolute fall of 1.9 per 100 births or a relative decrease of 10.5% over that period. However, the current rate still means approximately one in six infants were readmitted in 2009. The most common reasons for admission were respiratory infections, viral infections and intestinal infections. Admission rates for jaundice and feeding difficulties increased over the study period. Multivariate analysis found the major independent factors associated with the fall in readmissions were increasing maternal age, decreasing rates of maternal smoking and shorter length of stay during the birth admission. Presumably, policy changes and programmes such as the Early Postnatal Discharge and home midwifery support programmes have also played a major role in reducing readmissions. These local data are valuable, because early post-natal discharge has been an area of controversy, with concerns infant readmission rates could increase as a direct consequence.2 References 1Lain SJ et al. MJA 2014; 201: 35– 39. PubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar 2Brown S et al. Early postnatal discharge from hospital for healthy mothers and term infants. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 2002; (3): CD002958. Wiley Online LibraryGoogle Scholar Reviewer: Craig Mellis, University of Sydney, craig.mellis@sydney.edu.au Volume50, Issue11November 2014Pages 929-929 ReferencesRelatedInformation