The Nature and Cost of Readmissions after Work-Related Traumatic Spinal Injuries in New South Wales, Australia

Lisa N. Sharwood, Holger Möller, Jesse T. Young, Bharat Vaikuntam, Rebecca Q. Ivers, Tim Driscoll and James W. Middleton
Additional contact information
Lisa N. Sharwood: Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
Holger Möller: The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2042, Australia
Jesse T. Young: Justice Health Unit, Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
Bharat Vaikuntam: Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
Rebecca Q. Ivers: The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2042, Australia
Tim Driscoll: School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
James W. Middleton: Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 9, 1-8

Abstract: This study aimed to measure the subsequent health and health service cost burden of a cohort of workers hospitalised after sustaining work-related traumatic spinal injuries (TSI) across New South Wales, Australia. A record-linkage study (June 2013–June 2016) of hospitalised cases of work-related spinal injury (ICD10-AM code U73.0 or workers compensation) was conducted. Of the 824 individuals injured during this time, 740 had sufficient follow-up data to analyse readmissions ≤90 days post-acute hospital discharge. Individuals with TSI were predominantly male (86.2%), mean age 46.6 years. Around 8% ( n = 61) experienced 119 unplanned readmission episodes within 28 days from discharge, over half with the primary diagnosis being for care involving rehabilitation. Other readmissions involved device complications/infections (7.5%), genitourinary or respiratory infections (10%) or mental health needs (4.3%). The mean ± SD readmission cost was $6946 ± $14,532 per patient. Unplanned readmissions shortly post-discharge for TSI indicate unresolved issues within acute-care, or poor support services organisation in discharge planning. This study offers evidence of unmet needs after acute TSI and can assist trauma care-coordinators’ comprehensive assessments of these patients prior to discharge. Improved quantification of the ongoing personal and health service after work-related injury is a vital part of the information needed to improve recovery after major work-related trauma.

Keywords: work-related injuries; spinal trauma; record linkage data; cost; rehabilitation; complications; unmet needs; unplanned readmissions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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