20 from a group of 219 nonteaching hospitals with 250 or more beds. 15 from a group of 94 teaching hospitals with 400 or more beds at major academic medical centers. 25 from a group of 293 less-intensive teaching hospitals with 250 or more beds. The top hospitals in each category were not ranked in any order. Because of a statistical tie, the category of 100 to 249 beds included 21 facilities, increasing this year's list to 101.
Hospitals get sicker.
This year's study finds the traditional cost-cutting measures of shortening hospital stays and moving care to outpatient settings have nearly reached their limits. The national benchmark for average length of stay increased for the second year in a row to 4.25 days from 4.18, which barely kept ahead of the 4.52 days for all U.S. hospitals. The average length of stay for the Southern benchmark hospitals increased to 4.45 days from 4.23, while the average for the top North Central hospitals decreased to 4.23 from 4.37. The Northeast benchmark average decreased by half a day, to 4.54, but remained the highest of all regions. Benchmark hospitals in the West averaged 3.65 days, barely shaving time from 3.73 a year ago.