Dear Colleagues:

As you know, BWH has embarked on a comprehensive Strategic Plan, calling for various courses of action related to seven areas, one of which is length of stay (LOS). High on the agenda for the hospital is an incremental decrease in LOS by .2 days each year until 2005. Reducing the current LOS of 5.5 days to 5.0 days by 2005—a reduction of 12 hours per patient stay—must occur in order for BWH to be poised to reach a margin designed to sustain and grow its mission.

Although a challenge, this goal is attainable. Through the concerted efforts of our physician peers and others on the patient care team, lowering LOS from 132 hours to 127.2 hours by the end of 2002 will be accomplished.

The LOS Task Force is hard at work collaborating with the chairmen of all departments to bring about changes to diminish those unnecessary hours that are added to patients’ hospital stays. By making improvements to clinical care pathways, expediting the reporting of lab and radiology tests and streamlining the discharges of those patients who require a stay in post acute care facilities, a marked reduction in discharge delays will continue to occur. All of these actions will make the ultimate LOS goal of 5.0 days feasible by 2005.

Note further actions that will lead to lowering the LOS average at BWH in the article on page 7, entitled “BWH Strategic Plan: A Closer Look at Length of Stay.” Please feel free to discuss your thoughts and ideas on LOS improvement with your respective chairs or me.

Sincerely,

Andy Whittemore, MD
Chief Medical Officer