Indicator 2: Work-Related Hospitalizations Significance: More severe occupational injuries and illnesses may result in hospitalization. This indicator describes and tracks work-related hospitalizations for the purpose of identifying highrisk occupations and targeting prevention. Methods: Colorado Hospital Discharge Data is reported through the Colorado Hospital Association to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The discharge data database contains all inpatient and ambulatory patient data from member hospitals in Colorado. Hospital discharge data are categorized by payer, as a result, it is possible to limit the data to cases whose discharges are expected to be billed to workers’ compensation. This indicator is calculated using Colorado Hospital Discharge Data. The number of work-related hospitalization is based on total hospitalizations for Colorado residents over the age of 16 where worker’s compensation is the primary payer. Rates are calculated using data from the Current Population Survey from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Results Figure 2.1 Annual crude rate of work-related hospitalizations per 100,000 employed persons age 16 years or older in Colorado and the United States, 2001-2007 160
Rate/ 100,000 employed
140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Ye ar
Colorado
United States
Source: Colorado Health and Hospital Association hospital discharge data analyzed by the Health Statistics Section, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, December 2008. (numerator) Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Population Survey (denominator) * Data are not available for the United States for years 2005-2007
Indicator 2 – Work Related Hospitalizations
Table 2.1 Annual number and rate of work related hospitalizations for persons age 16 years and older, primary payer workers’ compensation, Colorado 2001-2007 and United States 2001-2004
Year
Work-related hospital discharges: Colorado occurrences, 2001-2007
Annual crude rate of hospitalizations per 100,000 employed persons age 16 years or older Colorado, 2001-2007
Number of work-related hospital discharges: United States occurrences, 2001-2004
Annual crude rate of hospitalizations per 100,000 employed persons age 16 years or older United States, 2001-2004
2001
2,925
132.4
173,724
128.6
2002
3,077
133.9
193,752
141.5
2003
2,866
123.1
184,986
134.3
2004
2,738
114.6
170,796
122.7
Average 2001-2004
2,902
125.8
180,815
131.8
2005
2,607
108.4
**
**
2006
2,605
104.2
**
**
2007
2,622
101.6
**
**
2,777
116.3
**
**
Average 2001-2007
** Data are not available for the United States for years 2005-2007
Source: Colorado Health and Hospital Association hospital discharge data analyzed by the Health Statistics Section, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, December 2008. (numerator) Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Population Survey (denominator)
• • • • •
The rate of work-related hospitalizations in Colorado was highest in 2002 at 133.9 hospitalizations per 100,000 workers. After 2002, the rates gradually decreased. (Figure 2.1 and Table 2.1) The highest work-related hospitalization rate in the United States was in 2002 at 141.5 hospitalizations per 100,000 workers. This rate gradually declined in 2003 and 2004. (Figure 2.1 and Table 2.1) Between 2001-2007, the average number of hospital discharges in Colorado where workers’ compensation was the primary payer was 2,777 per year. (Table 2.1) The average annual crude rate of work-related hospitalizations in Colorado from 2001-2007 was 116 per 100,000 workers (Figure 2.1). Between 2001-2004, based on hospital discharge data, the United States had a higher rate of work related hospitalizations than Colorado. Data is not yet available to calculate work related hospitalizations for the United States for years 2005-2007.
Data Sources: • Source: Colorado Health and Hospital Association hospital discharge data analyzed by the Health Statistics Section, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, December 2008. (numerator) • Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Population Survey (denominator)
Indicator 2 – Work Related Hospitalizations
Limitations: • Practice patterns and payment mechanisms may affect decisions by health care providers to hospitalize patients, to correctly diagnose work-related conditions and/or to list the condition as a discharge diagnosis. • Work-related hospitalizations may be under-represented due to utilization of other payer sources (Out of Pocket, patient’s private insurance). • Residents of one state may be hospitalized in another state and not be reflected in the hospitalization data for the state of residence. • All admissions are counted, including multiple admissions for a single individual. • Until hospital discharge data are available in all states, aggregation of state data to produce nationwide estimates will be incomplete. • Data between states or with overall US data are not comparable due to differences in states’ workers’ compensation programs. Recommendations • Report injuries and illnesses in Colorado by industry, occupation, age, gender, race/ethnicity and type of injury/illness. • Determine the factors that contribute to work-related injury/illnesses to guide intervention, education and prevention.
Indicator 2 – Work Related Hospitalizations
