Term: Average Length of Stay (ALOS)

Glossary Definition

Last Updated: 2007-09-26

Definition:

The mean number of days of care for inpatient hospitalizations for residents of a given region. Calculated by dividing total number of hospital days for residents of a given region for the fiscal year by total number of inpatient hospital separations during the same period. Zero day stays for surgical outpatient care are not included in the calculation. This is usually hospital inpatient stays but it may also refer to mental health and personal care homes residents.

Related concepts 

• Hospital Costing in the 1990's

Related terms 

• Atypical Stay
• Atypically Long Stay
• Case Weight Development
• Conservable Bed Days
• Diagnosis Related Group (DRG™)
• Expected Length Of Stay (ELOS)
• Home Care Use
• Hospital Marginal Costs Per Diem
• Indicators of Differential Utilization
• Length of Stay (LOS)
• Length of Stay Categories
• Long Stay Days
• Long Stay Inpatient Care
• Marginal Cost
• Outpatient Surgical Care
• Personal Care Home (PCH)
• POPULIS
• Short Stay Inpatient Care
• Stay
• Trim Point
• Typical Stay
• Utilization of Hospital Resources

References 

• Black C, Roos NP, Burchill CA. Utilization of Hospital Resources. Volume I: Key Findings. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and Evaluation, 1993. [Report] (View)
• Black C, Roos NP, Burchill CA. Utilization of Hospital Resources. Volume II: Methods and Tables. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and Evaluation, 1993. [Report] (View)
• Brownell M, Roos NP. Monitoring the Winnipeg Hospital System: The Update Report 1993/1994. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and Evaluation, 1996. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Frohlich N, Markesteyn T, Roos NP, Carriere KC, Black C, De Coster C, Burchill CA, MacWilliam L. A Report on the Health Status, Socio-Economic Risk and Health Care Use of the Manitoba Population, 1992-93 and Overview of the 1990-91 to 1992-93 Findings. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and Evaluation, 1994. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Lloyd M, Shanahan M, Brownell M, Roos NP. Hospital Case Mix Costing Project 1991/92: Methodological Appendix. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and Evaluation, 1995. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Martens PJ, Fransoo R, The Need to Know Team, Burland E, Jebamani L, Burchill C, Black C, Dik N, MacWilliam L, Derksen S, Walld R, Steinbach C, Dahl M. The Manitoba RHA Indicators Atlas: Population-Based Comparison of Health and Health Care Use. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2003. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Roos NP, Shapiro E. Monitoring the Winnipeg Hospital System: The First Report. 1990-1992 . Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and Evaluation, 1994. [Report] [Summary] (View)