Predicting psychiatric length of stay

This study sought to determine to what extent a multivariate model could predict psychiatric inpatient length of stay. Data were collected from psychiatric service discharges at the Jewish Hospital of cincinnati during 10 months in 1992 and 1993. Descriptive and multivariate analysis were completed using twelve variables to predict length of stay. The results of this investigation indicated a statistically significant relationship between a patient's method of payment and length of stay. Specifically, managed care patients were found to have shorter psychiatric inpatient lengths of stay than both private pay and government patients. Only within age subgroups were other independent variables predictors of length of stay.