Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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Changes in care providers and hospitals after emergency general surgery (EGS) (care discontinuity) are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The cause of these worse outcomes is unknown. Our goal was to determine if hospital quality is associated with mortality after readmissions independent of continuity in care. ⋯ Both care discontinuity and hospital quality are independently associated with mortality in EGS patients. These data support maintaining continuity of care, even at low performing hospitals.