❓ Mr. Cook inquires about average hospital stay lengths and costs in WA. The response provides data on metropolitan tertiary and major regional hospitals, including average length of stay and cost per bed-day, while noting limitations of the cost metric.
AnsweredQoN 5398Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What is the current average length of stay per inpatient episode (eg. x number of nights) in metropolitan tertiary hospitals? (2) What is the current average length of stay per inpatient episode in major regional centre public hospitals (Bunbury, Albany, Broome, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, etc)? (3) What is the average cost per night per each inpatient stay in West Australian public hospitals?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 June 2016
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
47 days
Data is provided based on discharges (separations) from respective hospitals for the 2015/16 year-to-date (28 April 2016) and the response includes both total average length of stay and non-same day average length of stay.
(1) The average length of stay per inpatient episode in metropolitan tertiary hospitals is 3.1 days.The average length of overnight stay (excludes same-day) per inpatient episode in metropolitan tertiary hospitals is 4.8 days.
(2) The average length of stay per inpatient episode in major regional centre public hospitals is 2.3 days.The average length of overnight stay (excludes same-day) per inpatient episode in major regional centre public hospitals is 3.8 days.
(3) The average cost per bed-day, per inpatient separation in Western Australian public hospitals for 2014/15 was $1,910.
Note: The average cost per bed-day for an inpatient separation is not a measure the Department of Health or the National Health Performance Authority use. The unit cost per weighted activity unit is the primary measure for hospital efficiency. The figure provided in the answer has been derived by modelling data submitted for the round 19 National Hospital Cost Data Collection process and is subject to an extensive validation process which is yet to be completed with the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority prior to the information being considered final.
(1) The average length of stay per inpatient episode in metropolitan tertiary hospitals is 3.1 days.The average length of overnight stay (excludes same-day) per inpatient episode in metropolitan tertiary hospitals is 4.8 days.
(2) The average length of stay per inpatient episode in major regional centre public hospitals is 2.3 days.The average length of overnight stay (excludes same-day) per inpatient episode in major regional centre public hospitals is 3.8 days.
(3) The average cost per bed-day, per inpatient separation in Western Australian public hospitals for 2014/15 was $1,910.
Note: The average cost per bed-day for an inpatient separation is not a measure the Department of Health or the National Health Performance Authority use. The unit cost per weighted activity unit is the primary measure for hospital efficiency. The figure provided in the answer has been derived by modelling data submitted for the round 19 National Hospital Cost Data Collection process and is subject to an extensive validation process which is yet to be completed with the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority prior to the information being considered final.
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