Variabilità del tasso di ospedalizzazione in un gruppo di pediatri di famiglia di una SAL della città di Roma

The aim of this study was to evaluate the hospitalisation rates among patients of paediatricians in a large health unit in Rome. All hospital admissions between 2001-2003 attributable to the patients of each pediatrician of the health unit were selected, excluding those for severe diseases. Hospitalisation rates and average expense due to hospitalisation per patient were computed. Overall 11,182 admissions occurred in the whole period among 70,778 children, with an hospitalisation rate of 5.09 x 100 (95% CI: 4.98- 5.20) (including severe diseases: 7.11 x 100 [95% CI: 6.97-7.24]). Single paediatrician rates showed a large variability (range: 2.49- 10.14). Our study suggests that single paediatrician hospitalisation rate might be a useful tool to evaluate outpatient health care activity.