A day less LOS saves little, study says
The belief that reducing length of stay by one day will significantly reduce overall cost "is incorrect" because "not all hospital days are economically equivalent," according to a study in the August issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. The study found that the last full day of hospitalization involves only incremental resource costs that total about $400 to $450. By eliminating the last day of hospitalization, a hospital would save only a small percentage of the total cost. According to the study, "the early phase of care involves expensive diagnosis and intervention, while the final days are essentially recuperative."
The study is on-line at http://www.facs.org/about_college/acsdept/jacs/lead_articles/aug00 lead.html.
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