OHA: Childbirth, chest pain, top reasons for admittance to Ohio hospitals

According to the Ohio Hospital Association, childbirth was the number one reason patients were admitted to Ohio hospitals in 2006 without going through an emergency department (ED). (OHA HealthBeat newsletter, March 2008). In that year, Ohio hospitals delivered 156,952 babies. For patients admitted to state hospitals through an emergency department, chest pain was the number one reason. According to the OHA, "among the 45% of patients who are admitted through the ED, pneumonia and chronic bronchitis were also major reasons for longer hospital stays. These conditions point to an aging demographic, with more than 42% of patients admitted through the ED at age 66 or older and nearly 78% at age 41 or older."

Top reasons patients are admitted to Ohio's hospitals (NOT through an ED)

1. Childbirth
2. Heart-related problems
3. Joint-related conditions
4. Pneumonia
5. Rehabilitation needs

Top reasons patients are admitted to Ohio's hospitals (through an ED)

1. Chest pain
2. Pneumonia
3. Heart-related problems
4. Obstructive chronic bronchitis
5. Renal failure