Abstract
In recent years, shortening of average length of stay (ALOS) became an important political issue in Japan to control medical expenses by reducing longterm hospitalization. Among (so-called) acute hospitals, the length of stay was shortened from 20 days to 17 days by the requirements of the ALOS of the Medical Care Payments Revision of Fiscal Year 2002. Moreover, it was considered to reduce the length of stay even to within 14 days. Leaving hospital earlier would make effective social rehabilitation possible for the young and middle aged in addition to the medical expense reduction. On the other hand, it might be desirable for the older generation to stay in the hospital for a longer period till the complete recovery.
In this paper, effects of medical treatment on hip fractures were analyzed by the ordered probit model. The influence of the length of stay in the hospital on the walking ability of patients was analyzed. Moreover, factors which might influence medical treatment effects were also analyzed in addition to the length of stay. The findings were: i) although the length of stay had a positive effect on walking ability, the effect depended on characteristics of patients, and ii) dementias, infections and place discharged to from hospital were important factors in addition to walking ability during hospitalization.
