Access to healthcare and the long-stay patient. A case study

The delivery and financing of healthcare services continue to be two of this nation's most debated issues. This case study found that long-stay patients could spend up to 37 percent of their hospital stay waiting for discharge to postacute care services. Because acute care costs more than postacute care, increasing access to postacute care facilities for long-stay patients could substantially decrease overall medical costs for the United States.