Patient mobility as a quality index of a bone marrow transplant center

Background Bone marrow transplant is a complex activity, the fourth per importance, preceded only by the transplants of liver/bowel, lung, pancreas and kidney and requires a huge investment of resources. Patient mobility, driven by patient preference is an indirect indicator of hospital quality and can provide an idea of qualitative and quantitative lack of services. The aim of our study was to describe and analyze patient mobility for bone marrow transplantation Methods Data have been collected from hospital discharge records in the ordinary regime related to the Diagnosis Related Group 481 “bone marrow transplant” since 2000 to 2013 in the Hospital of Perugia, which represents the second most important structure for bone marrow transplant in Italy. We included autologous and allogenic transplant, in the adult and the child. Analysis of patient flows was undertaken using repeated time investigations and the Gandy’s nomogram. Results Between 2000 and 2013, 1782 patients were admitted to hospital for bone marrow transplant. 919 (51,5%) were resident in Umbria region, 799 (44,8%) in other regions, 64 (0,3%) abroad. Escapes were 158. The Gandy nomogram showed a decrease for both escaped and attracted patients during the examined years; However, the structure maintained an high attractive power toward residents in Umbria Region and, in some years, it seemed to be a private structure with hospitalized residents greater than escapes, but lower than the attractions from other regions. Conclusions The Hospital of Perugia represented a centre of strong attraction for active mobility both for adjoining regions and for distant ones.The decrease in the attractions in the latest years could be explained due the opening of new hematologic centers in these regions which influenced citizens preferences. Key messages: We analyzed the patient mobility for bone marrow transplant using the Gandy’s nomogram. The hospital of Perugia represented a centre of strong attraction with a high quality of care.