Calculating basic statistics is one responsibility of the Health Information Management Department. This includes calculations for length of hospital stay, patient census, and percentage of occupancy.
|
Remember the rule for calculating Length of Stay (LOS): Count the day of admission but NOT the day of discharge. |
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
Calculating basic statistics is an important responsibility for healthcare professionals, especially for those working in the Health Information Management Department. In this context, one common calculation is the Length of Stay (LOS) of patients in a healthcare facility, which requires careful attention to detail and a clear understanding of the counting rules.
Answer:
When calculating the Length of Stay (LOS) of patients in a healthcare facility, it is important to remember the counting rule. According to this rule, we need to count the day of admission but NOT the day of discharge. For example, if a patient was admitted on Monday and discharged on Wednesday, the length of stay would be two days, even though the patient spent three calendar days in the facility. By following this rule, we can obtain accurate and reliable data that can be used to improve patient care and optimize resource allocation in the healthcare setting.
