Skip to main content

Hospital Consolidation Linked to Closure of Inpatient Pediatric Services

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, June 21, 2023 -- Hospital consolidation is associated with closure of inpatient pediatric services within five years, according to a research letter published online June 20 in JAMA Pediatrics.

Allan M. Joseph, M.D., M.P.H., from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and colleagues conducted a longitudinal study of U.S. hospitals using the 2011 to 2020 American Hospital Association annual surveys to characterize whether hospital consolidation is associated with loss of inpatient pediatric services. A total of 5,104 unique hospitals, representing 46,841 hospital-years, were examined.

The researchers observed a decline in the provision of inpatient pediatric services over time, from 41.5 percent of 4,876 in 2011 to 32.6 percent of 4,551 in 2020. Joining a hospital system was associated with a loss of inpatient pediatric services within five years (adjusted odds ratio, 1.57; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.26 to 1.96; P < 0.001). This association remained statistically significant at four years, but not at shorter follow-up lengths in sensitivity analyses with varying follow-up periods. The association between joining a health system and loss of inpatient pediatric services was not significant in a proportional hazards analysis (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.23; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.95 to 1.61; P = 0.13).

"Policy makers should consider the potential loss of inpatient pediatric services when reviewing proposed hospital mergers and acquisitions," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted June 2023

Read this next

BMI Cutoff of 30 for Obesity May Be Too High for Middle-Aged, Older Adults

FRIDAY, May 31, 2024 -- The optimal body mass index (BMI) cutoff point appears to be 27 kg/m2 for detecting obesity in middle-aged and older adults, according to a study presented...

Emergency Inguinal Hernia Surgery Rates Increased With Lower Country Income

FRIDAY, May 31, 2024 -- For patients undergoing inguinal hernia surgery, emergency surgery rates increase from high- to low-income countries, according to a study published online...

Maternal Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein Levels Higher in Black Than White Women

FRIDAY, May 31, 2024 -- Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels are higher in Black than White pregnant women, supporting the use of accounting for these differences in...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.