Unnecessary care delays of hospitalized patients increase the risk of hospital-related complications and drive up health care costs. While health systems focus on reducing the length of stay of hospitalized patients, not many studies looked at specific causes of the care delays that prolong length of stay. In this study, we sought to systematically identify and categorize the various care delays that contribute to prolonged length of stay on a hospital medicine service. Our study systematically looked at care delays that led to prolonged hospital length of stay. Most of these care delays were caused by either wait times for procedures and imaging studies or by a lack of post-acute care bed availability. Hospitals and health systems can use this approach to better determine which systemic changes are likely to be the most effective at reducing length of stay.

Nadler, A. D., Eid, S. M., Kisuule, F., Michtalik, H. J., Kantsiper, M. E., Harris, C. M., & Gundareddy, V. P. (2024). Categorizing Care Delays and Their Impact on Hospital Length of Stay. Quality Management in Healthcare, 10-1097.