MONDAY, Oct. 4, 2004 (HealthDayNews) -- A U.S. national database on children's hospitals can help reduce the length, cost and frequency of stays, says a University of Michigan study in the October issue of Pediatrics.
The data from the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI) can be used by hospitals to check their performance in treating children against the performance of other children's hospitals. This information can show hospitals the areas where they need improvement.
The researchers found the database helped reduce the length and time of asthmatic children's stays at the university's CS Mott Children's Hospital. It also reduced the children's rates of readmission to the hospital.
The researchers used the data to check Mott's performance and to improve the quality of asthma care at the hospital.
While they focused on children with asthma, the researchers said the database can be used to evaluate and improve any kind of care at any children's hospital.
More information
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers information about children being admitted to a hospital.
