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. 2010 Fall;31(1):1-10.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia among elderly Medicare beneficiaries in long-term care hospitals

William Buczko  1
Affiliations

Ventilator-associated pneumonia among elderly Medicare beneficiaries in long-term care hospitals

William Buczko. Health Care Financ Rev. 2010 Fall.

Abstract

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a complication of ventilator care that produces excess, avoidable resource use and treatment costs. Control of VAP is an important aspect of quality of care improvement for long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) since they provide post-acute ventilator care for many Medicare beneficiaries. Data for Medicare patients discharged from LTCHs during CY 2004 who received continuous mechanical ventilation are examined (N=13,759). Nearly 25% of Medicare LTCH ventilator patients acquired VARP Despite having lower mortality and less co-morbidity than non-VAP patients, length of stay (LOS) and total charges were both higher for VAP patients. Some of this excess is avoidable.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Post-Discharge Survival for LTCH Continuous Mechanical Ventilation Patients
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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