Hospital Utilization Estimates of hospital utilization (such as hospital discharge rate, days of care rate, and average length of stay) may be based on data from two different sources--the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS). Estimates of hospital utilization from these two surveys may differ because NHIS data are based on household interviews of the civilian noninstitutionalized population whereas NHDS data are based on hospital discharge records of all persons. Starting in 1997 hospital utilization data from the NHIS are for all hospital discharges whereas estimates for prior years excluded hospitalizations for delivery and newborns. NHDS includes hospital discharge records for all persons discharged alive or deceased and institutionalized persons, and excludes data for newborn infants. Differences in hospital utilization estimated by the two surveys are particularly evident for children and the elderly. For children NHIS estimates are higher than NHDS estimates due to inclusion of data for newborns. For the elderly NHDS estimates are higher than NHIS estimates because of inclusion of data for institutionalized persons and persons who died while hospitalized. SOURCE: Health, United States Related
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June 18, 2004
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