Recorded presentation

Jennifer Nolan, PhD student, Policy Analysis and Management, Cornell University, Martha Van Renselear Building, room 426, College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, 607 280 0286, jan36@cornell.edu

This study investigates possible predictive factors for readmission rates of discharged psychiatric inpatients in three hospitals in a county in New York State. The study sample is comprised of a cohort of over 300 discharged psychiatric inpatients followed over a twelve-month period. A county department of mental health located in New York State had observed that during the 1990s there had been an unusually high readmission rate after discharge from short-term inpatient psychiatric care in the county. The study investigates possible risk factors associated with readmission and examines how the various facilities are used once a patient is discharged from the hospital. The analysis for determining predictive factors of readmission includes logistic regression and survival analysis controlling for other significant predictive factors. The results are of value to the county mental health department in planning and implementing strategies to address the high readmission rates. Specifically, the results of the study allow the county mental health department to target individuals with the following characteristics, prior admissions, medication noncompliance, prior outpatient clinic assignment and perception problems as being at high risk for readmission. These identified individuals could be provided with enhanced outpatient-managed care in order to prevent the high cost and trauma of frequent inpatient care.

Learning Objectives:

• List at least three predictive factors of readmission rate of psychatric patients
• Describe the methodology used in the study for identifying predictive factors of readmission of psychiatric patients
• Recognize characteristics of patients who may be at risk for psychiatric readmission to target these individuals for more intensive case management

Keywords: Mental Health Services, Psychiatric Epidemiology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation