According to a recent survey by the American Hospital Association (AHA), the average length of a hospital stay has decreased to 5.9 days-possibly the first time this number has dropped below 6. Another notable finding: the number of hospitals in operation has reached its lowest level since 1923-dropping to an 80-year low of 5,890. The survey was conducted as part of the AHA's annual edition of Hospital Statistics and represent data for the year 1999.
Other findings show that admissions to community hospitals increased by 1.7%, while outpatient visits grew by 4.5%. The number of hospital personnel also increased by 7,000 to reach 3.84 million. For community hospitals-which account for the vast majority of hospitals in operation-the average occupancy rate was 63.4%, and the average cost per patient stay increased by 2% to $6,511.70. In addition, the cost of operating community hospitals increased by 5.1% to $318.83 billion.
From the January 11, 2001 article, "Hospital Numbers Fall Along with Lengths of Stay, Association Survey Notes," from Home Health Provider.com.