ICES study of patients discharged during the December holidays finds they have increased risk of death or readmission

The study show that patients in Ontario discharged during the December holiday period have an increased risk of death or readmission at seven days, 14 days and 30 days compared to patients released during other periods. Holiday-discharged patients were also less likely to have outpatient physician follow-up after discharge. Per 100,000 patients, the research found there were 2,999 fewer 14-day follow-up appointments, 26 excess deaths, 188 excess hospitalizations and 483 excess emergency department visits attributable to December holiday discharge.