ABSTRACT
This column presents results of a pay-for-performance (P4P) initiative to reduce psychiatric inpatient length of stay for Medicaid-covered youths at eight hospitals in Connecticut in 2008 (N=715), 2009 (N=1,408), and 2010 (N=782). Compared with the 2007 baseline, average length of stay decreased by 25% (from 18.1 to 13.6 days) by the end of the P4P program, with concurrent nonsignificant decreases in 7- and 30-day readmissions. Readmitted youths tended to access postdischarge care sooner and use more community-based services during the first 180 days postdischarge. Additional research is needed, but the P4P program appears to have contributed to shortening inpatient stay without apparent adverse outcome on increases in postdischarge service use.
Subject(s)
Child Health Services/statistics & numerical data , Length of Stay/statistics & numerical data , Medicaid/statistics & numerical data , Mental Disorders/therapy , Mental Health Services/statistics & numerical data , Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care/statistics & numerical data , Patient Readmission/statistics & numerical data , Reimbursement, Incentive/statistics & numerical data , Adolescent , Child , Connecticut , Humans , United StatesABSTRACT
Low back pain patients' responses to the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) were factor analyzed using the principal factor method and direct oblique rotation procedures. Four factors were extracted that accounted for 55% of the total variance. Coefficients of congruence were computed in order to relate the current factors with those extracted in a previous factor analytic investigation. The results provided positive evidence that the sensory pressure, evaluative, and affective-sensory factors that were previously identified are stable dimensions underlying the MPQ responses of low back pain patients. However, it is necessary to conduct further cross-validation studies using patients from a wide variety of treatment settings.
