@article {516251,
	title = {Transfer rates from nonprocedure hospitals after initial admission and outcomes among elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction},
	journal = {JAMA Intern Med},
	volume = {174},
	number = {2},
	year = {2014},
	month = {2014 Feb 01},
	pages = {213-22},
	abstract = {IMPORTANCE: It is unknown whether hospital transfer rates for patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted to nonprocedure hospitals (facilities that do not provide catheterization) vary and whether these rates further influence revascularization rates, length of stay, and mortality.

OBJECTIVES: To examine hospital differences in transfer rates for elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction across nonprocedure hospitals and to determine whether these rates are associated with revascularization rates, length of stay, and mortality.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: We used Medicare claims data from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2008, to assess transfer rates in nonprocedure hospitals, stratified according to transfer rates as low (<= 20\%), mid-low (>20\%-30\%), mid-high (>30\%-40\%), or high (>40\%). Data were analyzed for 55,962 Medicare fee-for-service patients admitted to 901 nonprocedure US hospitals with more than 25 admissions per year for acute myocardial infarction.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: We compared rates of catheterization, percutaneous coronary intervention, and coronary artery bypass graft surgery during hospitalization and within 60 days, as well as hospital total length of stay, across groups. We measured risk-standardized mortality rates at 30 days and 1 year. RESULTS The median transfer rate was 29.4\% (interquartile range [25th-75th percentile], 21.8\%-37.8\%). Higher transfer rates were associated with higher rates of catheterization (P ,
	keywords = {Aged, Fee-for-Service Plans, Female, Hospital Mortality, Hospitals, Special, Humans, Male, Medicare, Myocardial Infarction, Myocardial Revascularization, Patient Admission, Patient Transfer, Survival Rate, United States},
	issn = {2168-6114},
	doi = {10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.11944},
	author = {Barreto-Filho, Jos{\'e} Augusto and Wang, Yongfei and Rathore, Saif S and Spatz, Erica S and Ross, Joseph S and Curtis, Jeptha P and Nallamothu, Brahmajee K and Normand, Sharon-Lise T. and Krumholz,Harlan M.}
}
