Health care is a complex system that requires in-depth thinking, expertise, and ethical consideration so to encapsulate and further associate the concepts you are learning, in most modules, you will have the opportunity to reflect in-depth on relevant interconnected concepts. The expectations of the reflection paper include (1) Answer completely all the prompts or questions; (2) reflection should be between 800 and 1,000 words; (3) use APA-style; (4) turn in via Canvas by end of the Day 7 of the module (11:59 PM).
This reflection is a bit different since you need to do some calculations and answer specific questions. You can answer the questions using an Excel or Word document.
The table below gives some operational statistics for two hospitals located in the same community. Use the table to answer the following questions.
- Calculate the following measures for each hospital (wherever appropriate, calculate the measure for each pay type). Discuss the meaning and significance of each measure and point out the differences between the two hospitals.
A. Hospital capacity
B. ALOS
C. Occupancy rate - Operationally, which hospital is performing better? Why?
- Do you think the nonprofit hospital is meeting its community benefit obligations in exchange for its tax-exempt status? Explain.
- Do you think the hospitals have a problem with excess capacity? If so, what would you recommend? In your answer to this question, please consider how hospital governance may impact the ability of an administrator to make changes.
Table
Calendar Year 2016 Nonprofit Community Hospital (A) Proprietary Community Hospital (B)
Number of Beds in Operation 320 240
Total Discharges 12,051 9,230
Medicare 5,130 3,876
Medicaid 3,565 2,118
Private Insurance 3,356 3,236
Total hospital days 72,421 51,684
Medicare 36,935 26,359
Medicaid 23,175 12,921
Private Insurance 12,311 12,404
Total inpatient revenues $ 45,755,000 $ 35,800,000
Dollar value of community benefits $ 5,000,000 $ 3,500,000
