FACTORS AFFECTING THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY OF THE PATIENTS IN THE INPATIENT DEPARTMENT IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE IN NORTH INDIA

Many hospitals emphasize on stabilizing the patient, minimizing the length of stay and postponing complete diagnosis and treatment for the outpatient setting and early discharge of incompletely treated patients resulting in frequent readmissions, thereby, decreasing the quality of patient care. On the contrary, prolonged hospitalization increases the healthcare costs due to nosocomial infections and iatrogenic complications. We conducted a prospective observational study on the factors affecting average length of stay of 100 patients in the Inpatient Department in a tertiary care centre in North India. The association of Average Length of Stay with nutritional status, educational status and insurance status of the patient was found to be statistically significant.