Continuity of Care Is Associated with Medical Costs and Inpatient Days in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Kuang-Tsu Yang, Chun-Hao Yin, Yao-Min Hung, Shih-Ju Huang, Ching-Chih Lee and Tsu-Jen Kuo
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Kuang-Tsu Yang: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 81362, Taiwan
Chun-Hao Yin: Research Center of Medical Informatics, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 81362, Taiwan
Yao-Min Hung: Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal United Hospital, Kaohsiung 80457, Taiwan
Shih-Ju Huang: Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 81362, Taiwan
Ching-Chih Lee: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 81362, Taiwan
Tsu-Jen Kuo: Department of Stomatology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 81362, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 8, 1-15

Abstract: Background : Children with cerebral palsy (CP) place a considerable burden on medical costs and add to an increased number of inpatient days in Taiwan. Continuity of care (COC) has not been investigated in this population thus far. Materials and Methods : We designed a retrospective population-based cohort study using Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database. Patients aged 0 to 18 years with CP catastrophic illness certificates were enrolled. We investigated the association of COC index (COCI) with medical costs and inpatient days. We also investigated the possible clinical characteristics affecting the outcome. Results : Over five years, children with CP with low COCI levels had higher medical costs and more inpatient days than did those with high COCI levels. Younger age at CP diagnosis, more inpatient visits one year before obtaining a catastrophic illness certificate, pneumonia, and nasogastric tube use increased medical expenses and length of hospital stay. Conclusions : Improving COC reduces medical costs and the number of inpatient days in children with CP. Certain characteristics also influence these outcomes.

Keywords: continuity of care; children with cerebral palsy; medical costs; inpatient days (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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