Influence of insurance status on hospital length of stay and discharge location in burn patients

Abstract

Insurance status affects many aspects of healthcare in America, from access to delivery to outcomes. Our goal in this study was to determine whether different subtypes of insurance status affected hospital lengths of stay (LOS) and/or the location to which patients were discharged. The National Burn Repository was used to examine a total of 119,509 burn patients. Patients with noncommercial insurance (NONCOM) have increased LOS and are more likely to be discharged to a nonhome location, compared with no insurance or other insurance subtypes. Patients with no insurance have similar injury characteristics and comorbidities as patients with NONCOM, but have a shorter LOS and are more likely to be discharged home rather than to a skilled nursing facility or rehabilitation facility.