Estimating the Cost and Impact of Improved Nurse Staffing in Hospitals
Award Amount:
$135,773
Approval Date:
April 9, 2002
Start Date:
May 1, 2002
End Date:
April 1, 2003
Harvard School of Public Health
677 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Principal Investigator:
Jack Needleman, Ph.D.
A growing amount of evidence demonstrates that higher levels of nurse staffing in hospitals are related to shorter patient stays and better treatment outcomes. Lower overall hospital costs may be a further benefit. Using a database with information on nearly 800 U.S. hospitals, analysts would develop cost estimates for nurse staffing models and provide data on the offsetting savings achieved through shorter hospital stays, lower hospital-related morbidity, and fewer deaths. This project would thus help clarify the business case for investing in nurse staffing reforms.