Outcomes of Ventilated Patients With Sepsis Who Undergo Interhospital Transfer: A Nationwide Linked Analysis*

Abstract

Patients with sepsis requiring mechanical ventilation who underwent interhospital transfer did not have improved outcomes compared with a cohort with matched characteristics who were not transferred. The study raises questions about the risk-benefit profile of interhospital transfer as an intervention.

Analysis of readmissions after transoral robotic surgery for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

“…The use of robotic surgery was captured with ICD9 procedure code 17.4. Using a previously described approach to the NRD, we included patients who underwent surgery in the first 10 months of each year (2012‐2014) of the NRD to allow for adequate follow‐up time . Each patient was followed for a fixed period of 60 days from the date of discharge from ther index hospitalization for readmission to allow for analysis of 30‐readmission as well as 60‐day readmission.…”

“…Using a previously described approach to the NRD, we included patients who underwent surgery in the first 10 months of each year (2012-2014) of the NRD to allow for adequate follow-up time. [24][25][26] Each patient was followed for a fixed period of 60 days from the date of discharge from ther index hospitalization for readmission to allow for analysis of 30-readmission as well as 60-day readmission. We did not count readmissions for neck dissections alone without codes for other complications because these patients were likely planned readmissions for staged procedures.…”

The authors reply

“…We appreciate the thoughtful commentary of Wilcox et al (1) in response to our recent manuscript (2). On their most important point, we agree: “transfer of critically ill patients warrants further study.”…”

The Role of Collaborative Healthcare in Improving Social Sustainability: A Conceptual Framework

“…Collaboration among stakeholders is fundamental in ensuring that their disparate needs are identified and addressed [48]. In a similar way, hospitals can communicate to share their resources and facilitate the referral process of patients to avoid negative consequences caused by delay treatment such as double transfer, and extra burden [65]. Consequently, collaboration is an essential characteristic of the improvement of social performance (social sustainability) of the healthcare system.…”