Preventable Hospitalizations

A Window Into Primary and Preventive Care, 2000

HCUP Fact Book No. 5

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To help fulfill its mission of providing information on the U.S. health care system, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) develops and sponsors databases that include the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). Through HCUP, AHRQ has taken a lead in developing databases, software tools, and statistical reports to inform policymakers, health system leaders, and researchers at the Federal, regional, and State levels.

This Fact Book examines one critical area of health care quality: potentially preventable hospitalizations, or hospitalizations that may be preventable with high quality primary and preventive care. Higher rates of "preventable hospitalizations" may pinpoint areas in which potential improvements can be made in the quality of the U.S. health care system.

Select to download the print version of the Fact Book: PDF File (4.5 MB). PDF Help.

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By Denise T. Kruzikas, Ph.D.; H. Joanna Jiang, Ph.D.; Denise Remus, Ph.D., RN; Marguerite L. Barrett, MS; Rosanna M. Coffey, Ph.D.; Roxanne Andrews, Ph.D.

Contents

Executive Summary
Foreword
Contributors
Acknowledgments
Introduction

Part 1: Overview
   Trends Over Time
   Variations Across U.S. Regions
   Differences Among Priority Populations

Part 2: Detailed Statistics by Health Condition
   Chronic Conditions
   Acute Conditions
   Birth Outcomes

Appendix: AHRQ Prevention Quality Indicators
Source of Data for This Report
Methods
References
Glossary
For More Information

AHRQ Publication No. 04-0056
Current as of September 2004