Sudell A J, Horner J S, Jolly U, Pain C H
J Public Health Med. 1991 May;13(2):88-95.
Data over several years have shown that the average length of stay in general medical beds in the Royal Preston Hospital is approximately 20 per cent above regional average. To investigate this we carried out a prospective study of 259 successive medical admissions to the hospital. We also carried out a retrospective study of routine data from the Korner episode system (KES) for the specialties of general medicine and geriatrics, using standardization techniques. After correcting for age and diagnostic group, the average length of stay in the hospital was close to the regional average. It is concluded that difference between districts in respect of age and diagnostic group can cause substantial difference in average length of stay. Future contracts between purchasing and providing health service authorities will need to take such difference into account if valid comparisons are to be made between two or more apparently similar alternatives.
多年的数据显示，皇家普雷斯顿医院普通内科病床的平均住院时间比地区平均水平高出约20%。为对此进行调查，我们对该医院连续收治的259名内科患者进行了一项前瞻性研究。我们还利用标准化技术，对内科和老年医学专科的科纳事件系统（KES）的常规数据进行了回顾性研究。在校正年龄和诊断组后，该医院的平均住院时间接近地区平均水平。得出的结论是，不同地区在年龄和诊断组方面的差异会导致平均住院时间出现显著差异。如果要在两个或多个看似相似的选项之间进行有效的比较，购买和提供卫生服务的当局之间未来的合同将需要考虑到这种差异。
