Improved outcomes with delayed admission to post-acute care: results of a natural experiment

Key summary points Aim We used a reduction in funding for a private nursing home-based Irish post-acute care scheme as a natural experiment to explore the effectiveness of this scheme in a single large general hospital. Findings Those admitted to PAC after restriction of funding spent 6 days longer in acute care but had significantly reduced readmissions to hospital within 90 days of discharge and discharge to long-term care from the PAC facility. Message Our results suggest that the longer stay in acute care was beneficial for patients and led to improved outcomes and question the value of this approach to PAC.