Length of stay (LOS) is a data set that is calculated on a daily basis for the patient demographics in order for the facility to understand the capacity and ability to accept new inpatient cases. Depending on the job title, many different healthcare professionals view the data associated with LOS differently.
Evaluation Title: Length of Stay Presentation
Explain in three to five sentences the relevance of LOS to a healthcare manager in a hospital setting.
- Create a bullet point presentation for the board which includes administrators, physicians, other care providers and the stakeholders of the facility. Include in the presentation:
- The data points that need to be collected in order to calculate LOS.
- An explanation of why each data point is vital to the overall statistical result.
- A mock dataset of patient data to show the board how LOS is calculated (to ensure full explanation of ideas).
- Utilize at least two outside resources to support your assignment submission.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
The relevance of Length of Stay (LOS) in a hospital setting is critical, especially for healthcare managers. It reflects the time spent by a patient in the hospital and is calculated daily. Healthcare professionals view the data associated with LOS differently, including administrators, physicians, other care providers and stakeholders of the facility.
Answer:
The relevance of LOS to a healthcare manager in a hospital setting is to help them understand the capacity and ability to accept new inpatient cases. By analyzing the data, they can identify areas where improvements are necessary. LOS data can aid in determining the efficiency of healthcare systems, reducing costs, and ensuring better patient care.
Bullet point presentation for the board:
I. Data points that need to be collected to calculate LOS:
– Admission date and time
– Discharge date and time
– Medical diagnosis and treatment plan
– Co-morbidities
– Severity of illness score (SOI)
– Type of insurance coverage
II. Explanation of why each data point is vital to the overall statistical result:
– Admission date and time: This information is necessary to calculate the length of stay and determine how long the patient had been in the inpatient facility.
– Discharge date and time: This information helps calculate the LOS.
– Medical diagnosis and treatment plan: This data helps to identify the severity of the illness, the length of time required for treatment and recovery, and the likelihood of medical complications.
– Co-morbidities: Coexisting medical conditions can affect the LOS as it may require more time for the patient to recover from their primary condition.
– Severity of illness score (SOI): SOI assesses the condition of a patient based on the complexity of the disease. It helps identify resources and care.
– Type of insurance coverage: Insurance coverage may also play a role in LOS.
III. A mock dataset of patient data to show the board how LOS is calculated (to ensure full explanation of ideas):
| Patient No. | Admission Date | Discharge Date | Medical Diagnosis | Co-morbidities | SOI | Insurance Type |
| ———– | ————– | ————– | —————– | ————– | — | ————– |
| 1 | 01/01/2021 | 07/01/2021 | Pneumonia | Hypertension | 3 | Medicare |
| 2 | 02/01/2021 | 03/01/2021 | Migraine | NA | 1 | Private |
| 3 | 05/01/2021 | 10/01/2021 | Appendicitis | Anemia | 4 | Medicaid |
Resources:
1. “Defining, Measuring, and Improving Length of Stay in Hospitals: A Report from WHO Regional Office for Europe”. World Health Organization. Accessed on 25th October 2021.
2. Cardenas, D., Potter, J., Liu, X., Sun, J.. Adapting length of stay frameworks to quantify changes in surgery timing and total length of stay for enhanced recovery after spine surgeries. Journal of Health Economics and Outcomes Research, 2021; 8(1): 55–68.
