In 2011, what was the average census of observation patients in the hospital? What was the average census of admitted patients in the hospital?

Using the 2011 patient flows, how large should the ED observation unit be to achieve a target utilization rate of 80%? Why 80%?

In 2011, what was the profit flow in dollars/day resulting from patients who entered the hospital (on either observation or admitted status) through the ED?

Assume that an observation unit of your recommended size is built and running

and that the hospital is experiencing the same flow rates in 2011. Also assume that all of the inpatient beds that formerly were filled by observation patients can now be filled inpatients, who stay on average 5.8 days, and net the hospital $3.500 each.

There is a critical assumption in question 4. What is it? How would you check whether that assumption is justified at Middletown General?

Is there a financial business case to be made for building the ED observation unit, taking into consideration both fixed and variable costs and revenues?

How would you position the solution of an Observation unit analysis in Asplin et als framework? That is, in which component(s) of their framework

How well do you think Kelen et al address solutions like the Observation unit? Any reasons for that in your mind?