Differences in average hospital stay in German inpatient institutions analysed on a regional basis before and after re-unification
Lebok, U.; Mey, W.
Gesundheitswesen ) 61(6): 280-286
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0941-3790 PMID: 10429331 Document Number: 498174
The current German average length of hospital stay (ALOS) is comparatively too high, if seen on an international level. Since 1902 a clear and permanent reduction of ALOS is evident in Germany from official statistics. The decrease of ALOS was synchronous in East and West Germany even after reunification. The interpretation of ALOS results is rendered more difficult because German statistic consider both hospitals and rehabilitation centres when calculating annual case numbers of hospital treatment and ALOS. Consequently, the ALOS data cannot be a suitable parameter for analysing the effectiveness of the German hospital system.