Hospitalizations that could have been avoided if proper medical care had been obtained earlier are down in California, according to research done by the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development.

The study of admissions from 1998 to 2008 shows a decrease of 6.8 percent overall; 10 of 14 diagnostic categories, including chest pain, showed decreases of as much as 10 to 60 percent. The study included both adult and pediatric admissions

Disparities between counties were high, with Alameda County having two and a half times the state average in pediatric admissions, but more detailed breakdown of communities was not part of the study.

Needs of the Community

According to the report, more than 10 percent of the state’s 3 million admissions in 2008 could have been avoided with earlier primary care.

According to California Health Line (www.californiahealthline.org, January 3, 2011), future work will include gathering information for counties and hospitals to help them better to identify primary care needs in the community. Financial incentives will be provided to providers who work to avoid unnecessary admissions.

For the full report go to: www.oshpd.ca.gov, search “preventable hospitalizations.”