TABLE 4:

Patient characteristics in high- and low-volume hospitals

Low Volume (1–3/yr)High Volume (>24/yr)
Age (yr) (median)5854
Female82/108 (76%)75/96 (78%)
Race
 White70/86 (81%)68/96 (71%)
 Black9/86 (10%)9/96 (10%)
Primary payer
 Medicare34/108 (31%)26/96 (27%)
 Medicaid8/108 (8%)9/96 (9%)
 Private insurance57/108 (53%)57/96 (59%)
Median income in ZIP code of residence
 <$25,00013/105 (12%)12/89 (13%)
 $25,000–$34,99933/105 (31%)27/89 (28%)
 $35,000–$44,99923/105 (22%)28/89 (31%)
 >$45,00036/105 (34%)22/89 (25%)
Rural versus urban (hospital location used as proxy)
 Rural3/108 (3%)0/96 (0%)
Admission type
 Emergency6/101 (6%)0/96 (0%)
 Urgent17/101 (17%)4/96 (4%)
 Routine78/101 (77%)92/96 (92%)
Admission source
 Emergency ward3/104 (3%)0/96 (0%)
 Transfer from acute care hospital4/104 (4%)4/96 (4%)
 Transfer from long-term care8/108 (7%)1/96 (1%)
 Routine89/108 (82%)91/96 (95%)