To determine if the closure of a hospital is warranted, which occupancy indicator is most significant?

The percentage of occupancy is the most significant occupancy indicator when assessing whether the closure of a hospital is warranted. This metric provides a clear indication of how effectively a hospital is utilizing its available beds. A low percentage of occupancy suggests that the hospital is not seeing enough patients to justify its operational costs, which could lead to financial instability.

When occupancy rates drop significantly, it may indicate an oversupply of hospital beds in the area or a shift in patient care practices that do not necessitate hospitalization as frequently. Conversely, a high percentage of occupancy may suggest that the hospital is operating efficiently and meeting community needs. Therefore, monitoring this particular metric is crucial for decision-makers when evaluating the viability of maintaining or closing hospital services.

Other indicators, such as daily census, inpatient service days, and average length of stay, provide valuable information but do not encapsulate the overall capacity utilization as comprehensively as percentage of occupancy. These metrics can help inform about trends and patient flow but do not alone determine the hospital's operational effectiveness the way occupancy percentage does.