The Cost of Medically Unnecessary Days Due to Waiting for Guardianship in a State Acute Hospital System

Hospitals must do more with less, making efficiency a priority. Discharge delays create challenges for acute care hospitals. Some delays are due to patients waiting for a guardian—a person appointed to assist an adult who lacks decision-making capacity. Previous studies examine the burden of excess...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Inquiry (Chicago) 2022-01, Vol.59, p.469580221086912-469580221086912
Main Authors: Brierley-Bowers, Patricia, Connors, Heather, Tompkins, Joanne, Macy, Peter M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Hospitals
Humans
Legal Guardians
Original
Patient Discharge
United States
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Summary:Hospitals must do more with less, making efficiency a priority. Discharge delays create challenges for acute care hospitals. Some delays are due to patients waiting for a guardian—a person appointed to assist an adult who lacks decision-making capacity. Previous studies examine the burden of excess days in a single academic medical center (AMC); however, these institutions do not represent the entire hospital system. This descriptive study expands upon previous analyses by calculating the financial implications of medically unnecessary days in a state’s hospitals to payers. Two models are presented: one calculates the gross patient service revenues required to support excess days; the other calculates the expense to hospitals. Results suggest that substantial funds are required to support excess days. Funds may be better allocated to support the health and well-being of people needing medical care or to address the cause of delays due to waiting for guardianship.
ISSN:0046-9580
1945-7243
DOI:10.1177/00469580221086912