Research Summary: What Does a Hospital Stay Really Cost?

Employers know that an employee’s hospital stay often result in missed workdays and lost productivity. A new study co-authored by Stanford Ph.D. candidate Adelina Wang (supported by IBI as part of the Thomas Parry Research Fellowship) suggests that productivity losses do not necessarily end with a patient's discharge—and are linked to the quality of hospital care. Depending on the quality of care received, a hospitalization could impact an employee’s earning capacity for the next three years. This research summary provides the overview of the findings and provides suggestions for how employers can help improve the care options provided to their employees.