Length of stay reduction: Two innovative hospital approaches

As staffing limitations and reimbursement constraints challenge hospitals t o provide effective care, the development of greater clinical efficiency ha s become imperative. One promising alternative in this area is the reductio n in hospital lengths of stay. This study describes two different efforts a t length of stay reduction implemented by large general hospitals in Syracu se, New York. One of these programs, implemented by Crouse Hospital, focuse d on the use of continuum of care guidelines implemented by case managers a nd nursing staff on a daily basis. The other approach, employed by St. Jose ph's Hospital Health Center, focused on the use of physician education and the periodic distribution of individual length of stay profiles. Each of th ese approaches has generated notable successes in the reduction of inpatien t acute care lengths of stay.