Hip fracture deaths more likely at small and medium community hospitals: study
VANCOUVER — Canadians with broken hips are more likely to die after seeking treatment at a medium or small community hospital, compared with large and teaching hospitals, a new study says.
The report by the Canadian Collaborative Study of Hip Fractures found that for every 1,000 patients admitted with a hip fracture, 14 more die at medium community hospitals, and that increases to 43 more at small community hospitals.
Dr. Pierre Guy, a University of British Columbia associate professor of orthopedics, co-authored the study and said it isn’t about assigning blame.
“Health-care workers across Canada and hospitals are always trying to improve the care they deliver. The way we see this paper is sort of a call to action,” he said in an interview on Monday.