The Medical Inpatient Study

A medical inpatient study has been commissioned to examine medical inpatient services across Melbourne metropolitan teaching hospitals. The project was undertaken by the Clinical Epidemiology Unit at Melbourne Health, under the direction of Associate Professor Don Campbell.

The overall aims of the project were to:

• Describe the range, type and organisation of services provided at five Melbourne metropolitan teaching hospitals for medical in-patients
• Describe the characteristics of patients and the care that they receive during a medical in-patient episode of care
• Identify and examine the factors responsible for variation in length of stay (LOS) for medical in-patients between and within hospitals

The project analysed administrative datasets from each hospital, and examined in-patient episodes of care, in order to develop a comprehensive picture of medical in-patient care in teaching hospitals. The analysis identified issues of concern related to medical in-patient management from the policy, administrative and clinical management perspectives. Potential key performance indicators for medical in-patient management were identified.

Medical Inpatient Study - Final report - January 2001 (PDF File 815KB )

Key contact

Maree Roberts
Tel: 03 9616 7964
Email: maree.roberts@dhs.vic.gov.au