Improving length of stay - what can hospitals do?

The Nuffield Trust in the UK has published a report, Improving length of stay: what can hospitals do?.  The authors point out that improvements in internal processes could reduce the variations in stay for patients with similar conditions.  Some of the principles of good practice that emerged from their study of the literature and insights from clinicians include:  a focus on flow, getting the basics right and ensuring active support for discharge seven days a week.