Newly Built Public Paediatric Wards Increase Length of Stay (LOS)?

The conduciveness of a healing environment in a hospital ward can be determined by users’ satisfaction levels. Such an environment would ultimately influence the patients’ Length of Stay (LOS). The authors’ just concluded Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) study upon paediatric wards in public hospitals, in Malaysia's Klang Valley, revealed that the users’ satisfaction level favoured previously built wards rather than the newly built. As such, it is anticipated that the LOS would be longer in the newer wards. Implications would be upon increase in healthcare expenses as studies have shown the impact of LOS upon healthcare expenses.