Ambulatory Care Sensitive Hospitalizations

Ambulatory Care Sensitive hospitalizations such as asthma, diabetes or dehydration are hospitalizations for conditions where timely and effective ambulatory care can decrease hospitalizations by preventing the onset of an illness or condition, controlling an acute episode of an illness or managing a chronic disease or condition. Over the past few years, over 1 in 5 hospitalizations were preventable (see Table 1).

Table 1. Michigan Ambulatory Care Sensitive Hospitalizations
 Year Ambulatory Care Sensitive Hospitalizations Total Michigan
Hospitalizations		 Percent ACS
Total Male Female 65 & Over
2021 249,141 122,777 126,364 138,627 1,102,728 22.6
2020 242,930 119,943 122,986 136,718 1,074,727 22.6
2019 286,216 136,215 150,001 160,112 1,207,589 23.7
2018 287,719 135,927 151,792 160,521 1,217,818 23.6
2017 282,947 132,042 150,902 157,500 1,238,557 22.8
2016 268,724 124,366 144,358 144,510 1,245,751 21.6
2015 257,167 116,177 140,988 135,448 1,253,893 20.5
2014 247,217 111,198 136,017 128,143 1,242,651 19.9
2013 249,590 111,868 137,721 131,315 1,242,318 20.1
2012 256,059 113,684 142,375 134,400 1,267,722 20.2
2011 267,000 118,782 148,217 139,289 1,294,784 20.6
2010 265,255 117,386 147,868 139,055 1,296,984 20.5
2009 270,436 119,295 151,138 139,544 1,318,741 20.5
2008 269,383 119,276 150,099 142,010 1,319,836 20.4
2007 266,092 118,715 147,373 139,512 1,329,121 20.0
2006 264,605 118,128 146,475 137,780 1,337,470 19.8
2005 266,894 119,006 147,888 138,721 1,328,172 20.1
             

High rates of Ambulatory Care Sensitive hospitalizations in a community may be an indicator of a lack of or failure of prevention efforts, a primary care resource shortage, poor performance of primary health care delivery systems, or other factors that create barriers to obtaining timely and effective care.

It should be noted that the ICD-9-CM or ICD-10 CM diagnosis coding for a given Ambulatory Care Sensitive condition may not be the same as the coding for this disease in general. For example, Ambulatory Care Sensitive hospitalizations for diabetes excludes diabetes with renal, ophthalmic and neurological manifestations. In addition, age restrictions and additional diagnoses or procedure requirements for some Ambulatory Care Sensitive conditions further distinguish these Ambulatory Care Sensitive conditions from the general hospitalizations. Please consult the Ambulatory Care Sensitive hospitalization codes for details.

Individual tables for counties and health districts can be selected here:

County & Health Department Ambulatory Care Sensitive Hospitalizations

We hope that you find this material useful.


Last Updated: 08/15/2023