ALOS
Pronunciation: A-L-O-S
Also written as: ALOS — Average Length of Stay
Average Length of Stay - key metric measuring typical duration of psychiatric hospitalizations.
Full Definition
Average Length of Stay, a critical quality and utilization metric in psychiatric facilities measuring the mean number of days patients remain hospitalized. ALOS calculations may vary based on voluntary versus involuntary admissions, diagnostic categories, and payor sources. Editorial context requires understanding that psychiatric ALOS differs significantly from medical-surgical units and is closely monitored by regulators, insurers, and accreditation bodies for appropriateness of care indicators.
Usage
Usage note: Critical metric for utilization review and quality assessment.
In Context
- "The unit's ALOS decreased by two days following implementation of new discharge planning protocols." — Quality improvement report
- "ALOS benchmarking revealed opportunities for enhanced care coordination." — Performance dashboard documentation