title: LOS management: the path to efficiency.
abstract: Optimizing efficiency to reduce patient lengths of stay can enable a hospital to improve not only the quality of patient care, but also the financial bottom line. To evaluate opportunities for achieving greater efficiencies in this area, hospitals should: Gather and analyze data to identify pockets of variance. Determine the nature of discharge delays and why they occur. Identify opportunities for improvement, define possible solutions, and conduct cost-benefit analyses of the alternatives.
authors.affiliation: eileen.kurtz@milliman.com
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kurtz
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cookson
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mattie
mesh_terms: D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D019985:Benchmarking; D019090:Case Management; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003625:Data Collection; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D005377:Financial Management, Hospital / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States