Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026
06:52
Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
Published on: September 30, 2020
Examining financial performance indicators for acute care hospitals
Jeffrey H Burkhardt1, John R C Wheeler
1Health Administration Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA. jburkhar@uab.edu.
Journal of Health Care Finance
|April 26, 2013
Summary
This study clarifies financial performance measures for acute care hospitals. It helps financial managers and researchers select appropriate financial ratios for better understanding.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Financial Analysis
- Hospital Operations
Background:
- Measuring financial performance in acute care hospitals presents significant challenges.
- The proliferation of financial metrics complicates the selection of appropriate measures.
- Non-finance professionals face additional hurdles in understanding financial data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify fundamental financial concepts relevant to hospital performance.
- To describe commonly used financial performance measures and ratios.
- To enhance understanding for both financial managers and researchers in healthcare.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual clarification of financial terminology.
- Descriptive analysis of prevalent financial performance metrics.
- Review of common financial ratios used in hospital settings.
Main Results:
- Key financial concepts are defined for clarity.
- Commonly employed financial ratios are explained.
- Guidance is provided on interpreting various financial performance indicators.
Conclusions:
- Improved understanding of financial concepts and ratios aids decision-making.
- Standardized understanding of financial performance enhances research and management practices.
- This clarification supports more effective financial management in acute care settings.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Health Information Technology and Healthcare Information System
Health Information Technology (HIT)
Health Information Technology, commonly called HIT, integrates advanced information systems and technology in healthcare settings. Its primary functions include:
Health Information Technology, commonly called HIT, integrates advanced information systems and technology in healthcare settings. Its primary functions include:
01:28Hospitals-I
Hospitals offer medical and surgical care to the sick and injured, along with accommodation while they recover. At the same time, they also provide outpatient, emergency, psychiatric, and rehabilitation services to meet various community needs. In addition to providing medical care, hospitals also act as hubs for medical research and training. Hospitals use clinical procedures and evidence-based practice standards to deliver patient care. To deliver safe and efficient care, a nurse must stay up...
00:59Hospitals-II
Hospitals provide inpatient and outpatient services. Inpatient services provide care to patients that stay in the hospital for an extended period, ranging from days to months. Examples of inpatient services include intensive care units, hospital wards, or surgeries. Outpatient services provide care to patients who come to a hospital for a diagnostic or treatment but do not stay overnight —for example, diagnostic tests, surgical procedures, or health education.
Nurses that work in hospitals have...
Nurses that work in hospitals have...
01:11Purpose of Health Records I
The vital purpose of health records is to provide a complete and accurate account of a patient's medical history, including communication, diagnostic and therapeutic orders, care planning, research, and quality review.
Here's a breakdown of how health records serve these purposes:
Here's a breakdown of how health records serve these purposes:
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
Essential infection prevention measures are based on the knowledge of the infection chain, the modes of transmission in healthcare settings, and the use of the best practices in all healthcare settings. Compulsory public reporting of healthcare-associated infection rates is needed to allow individuals and the community to make informed choices regarding selecting a healthcare facility.
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:24Data Reporting and Recording
Reporting and recording are crucial in data documentation. The timely, thorough, and accurate documentation of facts is essential when recording patient data. Failure to record findings during an assessment or interpretation of a problem will result in loss of information and make the patient document unreliable. The reader is left with general impressions if the information is not specific. A recording is documenting data of the individual's health information in a traceable, secure, and...