Date of Conferral
2023
Degree
Doctor of Healthcare Administration (D.H.A.)
School
Management
Advisor
Matt Frederiksen-England
Abstract
Readmissions occurring in rural areas are an operational problem for administrators of state-owned facilities. The number of state-owned psychiatric beds have decreased by more than 96% nationwide. Georgia has 954 state-owned psychiatric beds (9.3 beds per 100,000 people) and ranks 48th in the United States. This is important as health administrators must ensure quality care for patients. The purpose of this study was to understand the relationship between readmission rate, discharge disposition, and rural access for patients who were admitted to an inpatient state-owned behavioral health center with a diagnosis indicating the patient is seriously mentally ill. The theoretical framework for this study was built on Avedis Donabedian’s structure, process, and outcome model. Hypotheses were tested using binary logistic regression analysis. Discharge disposition was the strongest predictor of state-owned inpatient behavioral health readmissions for high-risk behavioral health patients. Using a comprehensive discharge planning protocol could help prevent readmissions. This study contributes to positive social change as it could improve overall patient quality of life and care and reduce healthcare expenditures. Hospital administrators may draft a better discharge disposition planning process that focuses on finding stable safe healthy housing, as well as influence modernized institutionalization.
Recommended Citation
Williams, Catherine L., "The Rural Inpatient Behavioral Health Delivery System’s Challenges to Access" (2023). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 13130.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/13130
