Injury
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Policy encouraging earlier hip fracture surgery can decrease the long-term mortality of elderly patients.
In April 2004 the Israeli Ministry of Health decided to condition DRG payment for hip surgery by time between hospitalisation and operation, giving a fine for every day's delay beyond 48h. An evaluation study performed 2 years after the reform has shown the positive influence of the reform on patient's survival in the hospital. This study evaluates the impact of the reform on the longer-term mortality of patients. ⋯ The reform appears successful in decreasing the longer-term patient mortality after hip fracture through influencing surgical practice.