1. Calculating & Reporting Healthcare Statistics
Second Edition
Chapter 5
Length of Stay

2. Length of Stay
The number of calendar days a patient stays in the hospital, from admission to discharge
Facility uses LOS data
In utilization management
In financial reports
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3. Discharge Days
Days compiled on the patient after he or she has been discharged from the hospital
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4. Discharge Days Other names Days of stay Inpatient days of stay
Duration of inpatient hospitalization
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5. Discharge Days
Every day that a patient is in the hospital is counted as a discharge day except the day of discharge
The LOS for one patient is determined by subtracting the date of admission from the date of discharge when the patient is admitted and discharged within the same month
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6. Discharge Days
When the stay extends beyond one or more months, days must be added to calculate the LOS
For example, for a patient admitted on January 30th and discharged on February 4th subtract January 30 from January 31 and add the 4 days in February (31 – 30 = days in February = 5 days)
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7. Discharge Days
The LOS is one day if the patient is admitted and discharged on the same day
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8. Discharge Days Length of stay in an outpatient facility
Physician offices may be interested in knowing how long patients wait before being admitted to an examining room
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9. Total Length of Stay
The sum of the days’ stay of any group of inpatients discharged during a specified period of time
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10. Average Length of Stay (ALOS)
The average number of days that inpatients discharged during a particular period under consideration stayed in the hospital
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11. Average Length of Stay (ALOS)
Formula
Total length of stay (discharge days) / Total discharges (including deaths)
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12. Average Newborn Length of Stay
The average number of days that newborns discharged during a particular period under consideration stayed in the hospital
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13. Average Newborn Length of Stay
Formula
Total newborn discharge days / Total newborn discharges (including deaths)
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14. Leave of Absence Days
A physician-authorized absence of an inpatient from a hospital or other facility for a specified period of time occurring after admission and prior to discharge
Determined when the patient is not present at the census-taking hour
Involves an overnight pass, thus the patient would not be present at the census-taking hour
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15. Leave of Absence Days Usually excluded or tabulated separately when
Computing bed occupancy
Calculating inpatient service day
Preparing an inpatient census
Insurance carriers usually do not pay for leave of absence days
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16. Leave of Absence Days
Commonly used in in hospitals that have longer lengths of stay such as
Rehabilitation
Mental health
Chronic care facility
May be considered part of the patient’s treatment
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