Weekend Discharges and Length of Stay Among Veterans Admitted for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Author Department

Medicine

Document Type

Article, Peer-reviewed

Publication Date

9-2015

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Discharge rates are substantially lower on weekends, though the impact on hospital length of stay (LOS) is not fully understood.

OBJECTIVES:

The primary objective was to examine the association of weekend discharges with hospital LOS. We also examined the association of weekend discharges with readmission, mortality, and postdischarge follow-up.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS:

A cohort study of 25,301 patients who were admitted to Veterans Affairs hospitals for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease during October 01, 2008-September 30, 2010, including 3845 patients discharged on the weekend (Saturday or Sunday) and 21,456 discharged on weekdays (Monday through Friday).

RESULTS:

There were significantly fewer discharges on the weekend (1922 per weekend day vs. 4279 per weekday, P

CONCLUSIONS:

The presence of fewer weekend discharges was associated with significantly longer hospital lengths of stay. Weekend discharges were not associated with higher readmission rates and had lower rates of mortality compared with weekdays discharges. Identifying methods to increase weekend discharges may create an opportunity to improve hospital efficiency.

PMID

26147865

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