Overall inpatient and 30-day post-discharge mortality rates improved between 2009 and 2012 for five Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Inpatient Quality Indicators, according to a June 2014 Medicare Payment Advisory Commission report.
Trends in risk-adjusted inpatient mortality rates are used to evaluate the quality of care provided to Medicare beneficiaries during hospitals stays for specific medical conditions. The 30-day post-discharge mortality rates indicate the quality of care during a patient's transition from an inpatient stay to home or post-acute care in the 30 days after their discharge from the hospital.
Rates are risk-adjusted per 100 eligible discharges. Directional changes in rates are indicated by "better," "worse" and "no difference."
The following list shows the directional change and rates of inpatient mortality for AHRQ's five inpatient quality indicators:
- Acute myocardial infarction — Better: 7.97 percent mortality in 2009 improved to 6.23 percent in 2012
- Congestive heart failure — Better: 3.93 percent improved to 3.05 percent
- Stroke — Better: 10.82 percent improved to 8.69 percent
- Hip fracture — Better: 3.22 percent improved to 2.7.3 percent
- Pneumonia — Better: 4.19 percent improved to 3.20 percent
The following list shows the direction change and rates of 30-day post-discharge mortality for the same indicators:
- Acute myocardial infarction — No difference: 12.12 percent mortality in 2009 similar to 11.68 percent in 2012
- Congestive heart failure — Better: 10.26 percent improved to 9.34 percent
- Stroke — Better: 23.79 percent improved to 22.54 percent
- Hip fracture — No difference: 8.25 percent similar to 8.38 percent
- Pneumonia — Better: 9.74 percent improved to 8.63 percent