Studying outcomes and hospital utilization in the elderly. The advantages of a merged data base for Medicare and Veterans Affairs hospitals.

摘要: That veterans aged 65 years and older are eligible to receive care either in the Veteran Affairs (VA) health system or private sector under Medicare confounds analysis of veterans' services utilization outcomes two ways. First, changes eligibility financial barriers access with regard influence decisions about where seek needed care. Second, analyses VA for elderly that rely solely on data sources underestimate both overall treatment complications. Similarly, failure consider contribution delivery may confound by Medicare-eligible population. To study magnitude such confounding influences, we linked administrative databases residents New England York. Results indicated that, ten surgical procedures commonly performed elderly, as well hospitalizations resulting from acute myocardial infarction hip fracture, patients 17.6% 37.4% hospital outside system. Private account 5.5% 19.5% received within 6 months after an initial episode a hospital. It was also found conditions accounted 3.6% all among men. Although appears be underestimated sources, it ascertaining mortality available produced excellent results when compared deaths recorded enrollment files. A national, merged VA-Medicare base is feasible would enhance validity