Unplanned readmissions occurred in a sizable minority of PICU patients. Patients with complex chronic conditions and particular conditions were at much higher risk for readmission. In this multi-institutional study, we found that unplanned PICU readmissions occurred in a sizable minority of PICU patients, that the PICU mortality and LOS were greater in these readmissions than index admissions, and that patients with CCCs and particular conditions were at higher risk for earlier readmission. Further critical care and noncritical care research is needed to further identify patients most at risk for unplanned readmissions and to improve care systems so as to reduce their number and impact. Such efforts could include PICU providers becoming more actively involved in some patients’ medical neighborhood and on-going care.

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