Analytics for the Sustainable Use of Resources in Hospitals: LOS classification for nephropathy patients

Aim: Exploring the impact of nephropathy patient characteristics on length of stay (LOS) grading, proposing a path of LOS classification based on the characteristics of patients, and providing suggestions for the accurate management of shunting of patients with nephropathy patient to promote the sustainable development of the hospital. Methods: The data of inpatients from the Department of Nephrology of a large hospital in 2016 were used, including five variables: gender, age, patient type, medical insurance type, and LOS. Based on quantifying patient attribute variables, We use three steps to finish the grading. Firstly, using the factor analysis to extracte the common factors of patient characteristics. Sencendly, according to the results of factor analysis, using k-means clustering analysis to classify the patients. Finally, According to the characteristics of different types of patients and the law of LOS differences, a LOS classification path based on patient characteristics is proposed. Results: The factor analysis shows that the LOS common factor characteristics are disease characteristics, attribute characteristics and reimbursement ratio characteristics. The k-means clustering indicates that the patients are divided into 5 categories: the mean LOS in category 1 is 15.78, Patient characteristics: Mostly elderly women with the blood resuscitates patients(38.2%) or tumor recovery patients(30.3%), city medical insurance(50%);the mean LOS in category 2 is 10.5, Patient characteristics: Mostly strong men with the ordinary patients(62.5%), City medical insurance(79.2%);the mean LOS in category 3 is 7.62, Patient characteristics: Mostly young men with the other patients(99.7%), Provincial medical insurance(73.1%);the mean LOS in category 4 is 13.7, Patient characteristics: Mostly women in pre-old age with the Ward daytime patient(38.9%) or other patients(31.8%), Urban rural medical insurance(60.6%);the mean LOS in category 5 is 6.73, Patient characteristics: Mostly young men with the other patients(99.3%), Provincial medical insurance(54.4%).According to the characteristic differences among patients and the law of LOS differences, a model of patients' LOS classification path was proposed. Conclusion: The LOS classification path based on patient characteristics can realize the pre-classification management of patients, which has practical significance for early intervention of hospital resources.