Day of admission dictates length of stay for heart failure

HealthDay/Washington Post, May 22, 2008

Heart failure patients admitted to the hospital on Thursdays or Fridays have longer hospital stays than those admitted on other days of the week, according to a report, and those admitted on Tuesdays have the shortest stays. The day of admission does not seem to effect death rates for heart failure patients, however, the report found. The findings could lead to changes in hospital procedures, which could lead to shorter hospital stays and reduced costs, said the study's authors.