Understanding Length of Stay after Spinal Cord Injury: Insights and Limitations from the Access to Care and Timing Project

Costs associated with initial hospitalization following spinal cord injury (SCI) are substantial, and a major driver of costs is the length of stay (LOS); that is, the time that the injured individual remains hospitalized prior to community reintegration. Our aim was to study the factors and variables that contribute to LOS following traumatic SCI. Modeling (process mapping of the SCI healthcare delivery system in Canada and discrete event simulation) and regression analysis using a national registry of individuals with acute traumatic SCI in Canada, existing databases, and peer-reviewed literature were used to examine the driver of LOS following traumatic SCI. In different jurisdictions, there is considerable variation in the definitions and methods used to determine LOS following SCI. System LOS can be subdivided into subcomponents, and progression through these is not unidirectional. Modeling reveals that healthcare organization and processes are important contributors to differences in LOS independent of patient demographics and injury characteristics. Future research is required to identify and improve understanding of contributors to LOS following traumatic SCI. This will help enhance system performance. Work in this area will be facilitated by the adoption of common terminology and definitions, as well as by the use of simulations and modeling.