Key Findings

 

How did Utah quality of care compare with the nation from 2004 through 2006?

For in-hospital deaths, Utah hospitals overall did about as expected compared to similar adult inpatients nationwide for in-hospital deaths from pneumonia. Utah overall means all Utah hospitals combined.  Measures used are in parentheses. For more details, see the TechnicalDocument.

From 2004 through 2006, 579 (3.6%) of 16,278 adult pneumonia patients died in Utah hospitals. Utah overall had a lower percentage of deaths than expected for similar patients nationwide. 

Among the 38 Utah hospitals that treated 30 or more adult pneumonia inpatients

• 12 hospitals (32%) had fewer deaths than expected. Two of these hospitals had no in-hospital adult pneumonia deaths from 2004 through 2006.
• 25 hospitals (66%) had about as many deaths as expected.   
• One hospital had more deaths than expected.

There are many kinds of pneumonia as well as many causes and risk factors. This report includes some of the more common kinds of bacterial, viral and mycoplasma pneumonia among adults. Read more about kinds of pneumonia and see the Pneumonia Technical Document.

Note that many factors can affect in-hospital pneumonia deaths at a particular hospital. The measures in this report include pneumonia patients with do not resuscitate orders and other pneumonia patients near the end of their life. Read more in About the Report.

How did hospital charges differ among Utah hospitals in 2006?

Average hospital charges for the adult pneumonia inpatients (APR-DRG 139 Other Pneumonia) in this report differed widely. Among the 38 Utah hospitals that reported charges for adult pneumonia inpatients, average hospital charges ranged from

• $2,752 to $11,394 for patients with minor/moderate illness level
• $5,847 to $24,366 for patients with major/extreme illness level

As expected, average hospital charges for patients treated at the major/extreme level of illness tend to be higher. Often these patients require more complex treatment and longer hospital stays than patients at the minor/moderate illness level. However, patients who are very ill and die before they receive much treatment or have "do not resuscitate" orders may have low charges. For a complete list of kinds of pneumonia included in this report, see the Pneumonia Technical Document

Note that many factors will affect hospital charges. Read more in About the Report .