Nurse Staffing, Mortality, and Length of Stay in For-Profit and Not-for-Profit Hospitals

The issue of differential quality in for-profit (FP) and not-for-profit (NFP) hospitals remains a critical health policy question. With research demonstrating a relationship between nurse staffing and quality, the question arises whether the relationship differs in these hospital types. Using Health...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Barbara A. Mark (Author), David W. Harless (Author)
Format: Book
Published: SAGE Publishing, 2007-05-01T00:00:00Z.
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Summary:The issue of differential quality in for-profit (FP) and not-for-profit (NFP) hospitals remains a critical health policy question. With research demonstrating a relationship between nurse staffing and quality, the question arises whether the relationship differs in these hospital types. Using Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project data from the period 1990-1995, we found that case mix-adjusted registered nurse (RN) staffing was significantly lower in FPs than in NFPs, and we found a superior distribution of outcomes (mortality and length of stay) obtained with a lower level of RN staffing. The differences in mortality and length of stay disappeared, however, after controlling for population and market characteristics.
Item Description:0046-9580
10.5034/inquiryjrnl_44.2.167