HOSPITAL DISCHARGE REPORT SHOWS PREVENTION IS ESSENTIAL

Delaware's hospital bill has more than doubled since 2001

Delaware's hospital bill for 2009 totaled $2.53 billion, a figure that has more than doubled since 2001, according to the Division of Public Health's (DPH) 2009 Hospital Discharge Summary Report. Seven diagnoses accounted for nearly one-quarter of the total billed charges in 2009: coronary artery and other heart disease (coronary atherosclerosis), blood poisoning (septicemia), degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis), heart attack (acute myocardial infarction), live born infants, pneumonia, and respiratory failure. More than half of hospitalized patients were admitted through the emergency department; for uninsured patients that proportion was closer to three-quarters.

The 2009 Hospital Discharge Summary Report contains information about inpatient hospitalizations in Delaware hospitals. The report describes patient demographics, how and why patients were admitted to the hospital, how patients were discharged, average charges, and length of stay. In addition, the report's hospital and healthcare system profiles describe accreditation, ownership, medical staff, and services for each system.

"There is considerable evidence that heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes, which often occur in combination, can be prevented through healthy eating and physical activity," said Dr. Karyl Rattay, DPH director. "DPH is focused on helping Delawareans prevent disease, and therefore reducing the rates of hospitalization and emergency department visits."

Other key findings in 2009:

• There were 112,832 patients discharged from Delaware hospitals in 2009; 13 percent of these reside in another state.‪
• On average, patients stayed just less than five days in the hospital and were charged $22,410.
• Together, Medicare and Medicaid were billed for 62 percent of all hospital stays; private insurance was billed for 33 percent, and the remaining 5 percent were billed to other programs or the patient.
• 96 percent of patients 65 and older had Medicare as the primary payer for their hospital stay;
• 47 percent of patients under 18 years old had Medicaid as their primary payer; and
• 5.5 percent of patients 18 - 44 years old had no coverage.
• Women accounted for 58 percent of all discharges in 2009. In the 20 - 34 year age group, four out of every five discharges were women.
• Since 1994, annual cesarean delivery rates increased for every hospital in Delaware. By 2009, 34.8 of every 100 deliveries were cesarean.
• The most common reasons for hospitalization were infants born in the hospital, and diagnoses of pneumonia, degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis), and heart failure.
• The majority of patients were routinely discharged to their home, 10 percent were discharged to a long term care facility, 2.4 percent died, and less than 1 percent left the hospital against medical advice.

The report may be accessed at the following website: at www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/hp/files/hosp09.pdf

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.