ALOS
Medical abbreviation · Hospital
| Stands for | Average length of stay |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
ALOS stands for Average length of stay, a hospital abbreviation.
Mean number of days patients remain in hospital over a period, calculated by dividing total inpatient days by discharges. It is used to compare efficiency between units, hospitals and countries.
Example: Medicine ALOS fell from 5.2 to 4.7 days after discharge-before-noon project.
Usage notes
ALOS is influenced by case mix, so comparisons are usually adjusted for diagnosis and severity. Observation patients are excluded from inpatient ALOS. Shorter stays are not always better if readmissions rise.
Related abbreviations
More hospital abbreviations
- ADC – Average daily census
- ADON – Assistant director of nursing
- AIIR – Airborne infection isolation room
- ALC – Alternate level of care
- ALF – Assisted living facility
- AMC – Academic medical center
- AOD – Administrator on duty
- ASC – Ambulatory surgery center
- BBP – Bloodborne pathogens
- BHU – Behavioral health unit
- CAH – Critical access hospital
- CAUTI – Catheter-associated urinary tract infection
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This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.