Journal of hospital medicine : an official publication of the Society of Hospital Medicine
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We examined associations between a validated, multidimensional measure of social determinants of health and population-based hospitalization rates among children <18 years across 18 states from the 2017 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Databases and the US Census. The exposure was ZIP code-level Child Opportunity Index (COI), a composite measure of neighborhood resources and conditions that matter for children's health. ⋯ Decreasing neighborhood opportunity was associated with increasing hospitalization rates among children in 18 US states. These data underscore the importance of social context and community-engaged solutions for health systems aiming to eliminate care inequities.
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Editorial Comment
Moving toward equitable access to both opportunity and health.
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Emergency overcrowding is a problem in hospitals worldwide. The expansion of wards has limitations. Hospital administrative leaders are constantly looking for opportunities to improve the efficiency of resource use. ⋯ HDT brought benefits to our hospital, reducing the length of stay and increasing bed turnover. However, there is a need for a team focused on the project and support from managers to overcome resistance and integrate units until they are fully operational.