Economic Loss from Admission Postponement

Abstract

Objective : To study the economic loss of to patients and their relatives resulting from the postponement of admission.

Design: Descriptive study.

Setting: Surgical Outpatient Department, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University.

Subjects : Ninety patients whose admission was postponed and 159 of their relatives.

Data Collection : A structured questionnaire was administered to the patients and relative between November 1, 1997, and January 31, 1998.

Measurement; Descriptive statistics, including freequancy, number, kpercentages, and means.

Results: Ninety (15.7%) of 574 admissions were postponed.  The ratio of relatives to patients interviewed was 1:1.8. The average loss to patients and relatives  was 485 baths per postponement.  The average postponement was for 1.3 days.

Conclusions: The average loss to patients and relatives was 485 baths per postponement, it was almost ot haft of the northeast Thai population’s average income per month.  The admission postoponement was much happening (15.7%), if organization has effective management, it will be lessen economic loss to patients and relatives.