Preventable Hospitalizations Information

New Information

Information on counties whose residents age 65+ had preventable hospitalization rates for bacterial pneumonia, urinary tract infection and dehydration at least 50% greater than the state rate for 2007, 2006 and 2005.

Report (Word 288K)

Map (PDF 214K)

• Some hospitalizations can be prevented…
• Some hospitalizations can be very serious and expensive…
• Hospitalizations represent a major part of local, state and federal health care costs…

The purpose of this website is to provide user-friendly information that can be used to:

• Identify potential health care access problems;
• Identify potential unmet health care needs;
• Monitor the degree to which hospitalizations are avoided and dollars saved; and
• Assist in developing strategies to improve health care and reduce costs.

Adult hospitalizations for the following conditions are called “preventable hospitalizations,” because if the individual had access to and cooperated with outpatient health care, hospitalization for these conditions could potentially have been prevented:

1. Bacterial Pneumonia;
2. Dehydration;
3. Urinary Tract Infection;
4. Perforated Appendix;
5. Low Birth Weight;
6. Angina (without Procedures);
7. Congestive Heart Failure;
8. Hypertension (High Blood Pressure);
9. Adult Asthma;
10. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease;
11. Diabetes Short-Term Complications;
12. Diabetes Long-Term Complications;
13. Uncontrolled Diabetes; and
14. Lower Extremity Amputation among Patients with Diabetes.

High rates of preventable hospitalizations can mean there is room for improvement in outpatient health care (e.g., the need for outpatient health care providers to diagnose, educate and treat patients). Additionally, high rates can mean there is room for improvement in patients participating in their care and adopting healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Low rates of preventable hospitalizations can mean outpatient health care providers are doing a good job in diagnosing, educating and treating patients.  Additionally, low rates can mean patients are participating in their care and adopting healthy lifestyle behaviors.

County Profiles on preventable hospitalizations.

State profile on preventable hospitalizations.

This information is not an evaluation of hospitals or other health care providers.

Last Updated September 11, 2009