ETHICS IN RESEARCH AND HEALTHCARE STATISTICS

ICP1: Ethics in Research and Healthcare Statistics

P A GE 1

Task 1 Formulas

Measurement Formula Example

Average length of stay (ALOS) of discharged patients

The average number of days that inpatients (exclusive of newborns) remained in the

hospital.

Total length of stay of discharged patients for given period

Total number of discharges and deaths in the same period

In June a hospital discharged 2,086 patients (including deaths, but

excluding newborns). Their combined length of stay was 13,654 days.

Using the above formula, the average length of stay of these patients is as follows:

13654 2086 = 6.54 or 6.5 days

Average Daily Census (Average Daily Bed Occupancy) The average number of inpatients present each day for a given time period. This figure is derived by dividing the sum of patient days for a period by the number of days in the same period.

Total number of patient days for a period (except newborn) Total number of days in the same period

In May a hospital rendered 4,280 patient days (excluding newborn babies). May has 31 days. Using the above formula, the average daily census is calculated as follows: 4280 31 = 138.06 or 138.1 This would be rounded to give the average daily inpatient census during May of 138 patients.

Hospital Death Rate A ratio of all inpatient deaths

for a given period to the total number of discharges and deaths in the same period.

Total number of deaths of inpatients in a given period x 100

Total number of discharges and deaths in the same period

A hospital had a total of 15 deaths during the month of June.

A total of 540 patients were discharged (including the 15 deaths) during the

month. The hospital death rate according to the above

formula is as follows: 15 × 100 540 = 2.77 or 2.8%