Inpatient length of stay measures: Statistical and conceptual issues

Abstract

This paper examines the combined use of a prospective view of length of stay (LOS) using life table analysis and examinations of point-in-time data measuring the LOS of individuals hospitalized on a given day. This approach can provide a more detailed and comprehensive view of trends and differences in LOS across facilities over time and can be particularly useful in assessing the impact of changes in policy and service delivery strategies.