Reducing Hospital Stay Length in a Community Hospital
Author Information
Author(s): Reppond Alexander M. MS, Flavin Nicholas MPH, Albaum Michael N. MD
Primary Institution: MaineHealth
Hypothesis
Can a process improvement initiative effectively reduce the average length of stay (ALOS) in a community hospital?
Conclusion
The study found that the average length of stay in the community hospital decreased by 13.7% after implementing the intervention strategies.
Supporting Evidence
- The average length of stay decreased from 6.3 to 5.5 days after the interventions.
- The interventions were implemented fully by February 2023.
- Data showed a significant reduction in ALOS compared to the previous year.
Takeaway
The hospital tried new ways to help patients leave sooner, and it worked! Patients stayed about a day and a half less than before.
Methodology
The study used a process improvement initiative with three main strategies: early mobilization, interprofessional rounding, and structured interdisciplinary care rounds.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from the reliance on self-reported adherence to interventions.
Limitations
The study could not isolate the independent effects of each intervention and did not control for confounding factors.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on hospitalized inpatients on the adult medicine service, excluding newborns, maternity, and behavioral health admissions.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.01
Confidence Interval
95% CI, 0.023–0.172
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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