DETERMINANTS OF LENGTH OF STAY IN GEROPSYCHIATRY

To examine factors associated with prolonged length of stay (LOS) on an inpatient, acute geropsychiatry service, the authors reviewed electronic medical records and social work files for patients discharged during a 12-month period. There was no significant correlation between LOS and age, medical comorbidity, or the presence of dementia, depression, or psychosis. Patients transferred to adult homes or nursing homes stayed twice as long as patients who returned to their own homes (84 vs. 41 days; P = 0.002). Discharge disposition (rather than clinical factors) is associated with prolonged LOS in geropsychiatry and should be the focus of efforts to shorten hospital stays.