The length of hospital stay is the average number of days that patients spend in hospital.
The average length of stay in hospitals (ALOS) is generally measured by dividing the total number of days stayed by all inpatients during a year by the number of admissions or discharges. Day cases are excluded.
Curative care comprises healthcare contacts during which the principal intent is to relieve, reduce symptoms of illness or injury or to protect against complications. All components of curative care of illness (including both physical and mental/psychiatric illnesses) or treatment of injury are included, such as diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical procedures as well as obstetric services. It does not include other functions of care such as rehabilitative care, long-term care and palliative care.
Often used as an indicator of efficiency, with all other things being equal, a shorter stay will reduce the cost per discharge and shift care from inpatient to less expensive post-acute settings.
The indicator is measured in average number of days.
