The results of a financial analysis and simulation model using real hospital data were reported in Annals of Emergency Medicine. Researchers created models to determine what combination of ED admissions and scheduled admissions leads to highest hospital revenues. They determined that when hospital occupancy reached a certain point, a reduction of scheduled admissions by only 5 percent (generally only a few patients) would lead to a $7,418 increase in hospital revenue per day.
Because ED admissions typically generate significantly less hospital revenue than scheduled admissions, hospital administrators have tended to favor scheduled admissions over ED admissions when allocating inpatient beds. Hard limits on the number of ED beds have led to patients being held in the ED for hours, the practice known as boarding. These findings shed light on how hospital administrator could alter bed management practices to increase hospital revenue while improving ED care.
Read the news release about ED boarding time and hospital revenue.
Read other coverage about hospital EDs:
– OIG Report: Medicare Erroneously Allowed $38M in Claims for Outpatient ED Imaging
– 6 Tips for Improved Relations Between Hospital Leaders and ED Physicians
– 14 Hospitals Partner With Premier in ED Safety Initiative
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