Unnecessary Hospitalizations Drop in California

There has been a drop in unnecessary hospitalizations in California, but state officials say a lack of regular health care shows blacks are being hospitalized too often.

Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development director Dr. David Carlisle says reports show increasing health insurance availability has cut the number of unnecessary hospitalizations. They fell 6.8 percent statewide from 1999 to 2008.

The Los Angeles Times says state researchers tracked 15 medical conditions for which hospitalizations are considered preventable, including chest pain, pediatric gastroenteritis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Some minority groups, especially blacks, are still being hospitalized too often for maladies that include long-term diabetes complications, urinary tract infections and hypertension.