Term: Hospitalizations in the Last Six Months of Life

Glossary Definition

Last Updated: 2007-09-26

Definition:

Hospitalizations in the last six months of life are a count of the number of times decedents were admitted to hospitals. Note that transfers from one hospital to another were not counted as a "new" hospital episode. For example, an individual who was discharged from Hospital A and transferred to Hospital B would be classified as having one hospitalization only.

References 

• Menec V, Lix L, Steinbach C, Ekuma O, Sirski M, Dahl M, Soodeen R. Patterns of Health Care Use and Cost at the End of Life. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2004. [Report] [Summary] (View)